El Verger In Spain Announces Ban On Cruel ‘Tradition’ Of Setting Bulls’ Horns On Fire

Some hopeful news as the town of El Verger in Spain has banned the cruel practice of setting bulls’ horns on fire as part of the Running of the Bulls festival.

The El Verger City Council will no longer hire, subsidize, or authorize the cruel pastime, noting in an official statement that traditions evolve.

“Traditions evolve over time,” the statement said. “We believe that it is crucial to adapt to the changing sensibilities and values of our society. It is important to point out that numerous towns throughout the Spanish state and in other countries have chosen to stop holding events with bulls and fire due to similar concerns.”

The Council also said that their decision aligns with their aim to ensure that their actions guarantee “respect and dignity for all living beings.” Although this is a small victory, they should be banning bull runs and bullfighting all together if they really had respect for all living beings.

“The practice of setting fire to bulls’ horns causes unnecessary stress, injury, and suffering to the animals, which goes against our ethical principles and responsibility towards them,” reads a translation of the original statement.

El Verger’s Mayor, Basili Salort echoed that statement, saying the decision was made “in accordance with the signs of the times and new sensibilities.”

More than 42,000 people signed Lady Freethinker’s petition on behalf of these bulls.

Unfortunately, the city will still allow the bull running festival – in which terrified bulls are chased through the streets, amid throngs of people, before being killed in rigged bullfights later that evening.

Mayor Salort said in a statement that he does not believe that the same “mistreatment” happens during the bull running festival, despite dozens of injuries to people each year, deaths (including a 27-year-old Spaniard impaled on a bull horn as recently as 2009) and the inevitable grisly demise of the bulls.

While banning the cruel practice of setting bull’s horns on fire is a positive step forward, the continued misperception that bull runs and bull fights are not cruel shows how much work still needs to be done.

Please sign Lady Freethinker’s petition urging the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, to ban bloody bull fights, HERE!