Contention at
The Sumas Round-Up
Whatcom county used to be a much more rural place than the one we see today. Farmers and their livestock were codependent in their prosperity, and being a cowboy was still considered a decent livelihood. The presence of animals in the county was more prominent in the early 20th century. But rather than solely working these animals on the fields and hills, they were also seen as profitable entertainment by many. By the 1920s, Bellingham’s neighbor, Sumas was putting on an annual rodeo coined, The Sumas Roundup. Horse bucking, races, steer wrestling, and calf-roping were major attractions at the roundup, bringing thousands of contestants and onlookers from all over the United States and Canada.
For the Whatcom Humane Society, the protection of animals and their safety was of utmost importance. The members responded to a litany of abuse cases and poorly maintained animal stock for decades, indicting the abusers within the county. Not even the members of the society itself were entirely safe from some form of prosecution, A Mr. Ruscoe being removed from his position due to the mistreatment of his livestock. The local sensation that was the Sumas Roundup fell under the jurisdiction of Whatcom county, but received no predilection from the Whatcom Humane Society.
The Round-Up of 1937 was an exciting year despite the apparent rain and heavy traffic. Amongst the international crowd, contestants, and cowboys were also humane officers and other local law enforcement. By Saturday the 25th, many calf-roping cowboys were warned of their outstanding warrants charging them with “disturbing the peace of domestic animals for personal gain.” Ignoring the warnings, the cowboys still engaged in the calf-roping event, being arrested afterwards having shown no signs of restraint when physically restraining the calfs. The men were arrested, but were given cash bail by Hartwig the same evening.
By 1938, the society sent a request to the management of the Roundup describing their concerns surrounding the treatment of animals at many events, but especially calf-roping. The letter read:
Gentlemen:
The American Humane Society has consistently been opposed to Rodeos or Roundups, for the reason of certain abuses to animals.
At a recent meeting of the Society of the State of Washington, held at Everett, Wash., the Society again went on record opposing this sort of sport, where dumb animals are involved.
We do not wish to interfere with your programme, but ask you in all sincerity to refrain from any cruelty; we especially request of you not to lasso small calves, try and find some other amusement in place of calf roping.
We do not intend to interfere with your programme while it is on, but reliable people will be present and take notes of any cruelties and if any cruelties are perpetrated, prompt action will be taken by the Humane Society, to prosecute those responsible for the same, as the law provides, in the cause of the poor and defenseless animals.
With a sincere thought in mind, we remain,
Yours Truly –
Whatcom County Humane Society, Inc.
The letter was published in the Bellingham Herald, June 10th, 1938, only two days after it had been sent to John Hartwig, manager of the Sumas Roundup. Hartwig would go on to defend the activities of the Roundup, stating that it is only the daily work of a rancher and cowboy put on display. He continued in a later report of the Herald that he “[does] not tolerate acts of cruelty, and speaking for the cowboys as a whole, you will seldom find a cowboy abusing a dumb animal. Their entire life is being spent amongst and with the stock, and experience has long ago taught them that kindness alone will win the confidence and willingness of any dumb animal.”
Ultimately, the actions of protest by the Whatcom Humane Society did not prevent further calf-roping events. However, the vigilance of patrolling members from the society were present to ensure no extreme abuse was taking place. With the 1930s came the Great Depression, and while Bellingham was still relatively prosperous in comparison with much of the nation, the Sumas Roundup was cancelled until 1937. By 1940, the second world war had come for Canadian soldiers, the borders tensely tightening between the nations. As Canadians were and integral part of the Roundups function and popularity, the event came to permanent close, the war coming for the U.S. less than two years afterwards.
