Tell WGBH and PBS to end irresponsible airing of animal abuse on children's shows!
Across America, PBS is airing an episode of "Arthur", "Postcards from Buster", produced by WGBH Interactive that features a story of a rodeo family in Houston, Texas. This show is promoted as educational and informational and has a target audience of young children. In one particular episode filmed in Houston, Texas, there were segments showcasing blatant mishandling of a rodeo barrel racing horse named "Cowboy". In an attempt to steer and stop him, his young rider repeatedly pulled the reins so hard that Cowboy often gaped in pain. This is unacceptable content, especially for young audiences.
The Houston, Texas episode of “Arthur”, “Postcards from Buster” featuring a rodeo family in Houston, Texas would have been an informative and light-hearted episode if it had not been for the blatant animal abuse exhibited by the young rider and the multiple safety oversights sprinkled throughout. Viewers witnessed a horse named Cowboy being ridden by a very young rider that has a lot to learn about proper horse handling and humane treatment. During the riding segments, in an attempt to steer and stop Cowboy, his young rider repeatedly pulled the reins back with her full weight--so hard that Cowboy often gaped in pain. Other segments showed tacking up the horses in saddles prior to loading them in the trailer for a trip to the rodeo and there were references made to horses sleeping in the trailer, standing up, for days between galloping runs in competition. Additionally, the young rider was disappointed with a third place finish, proclaiming, “He didn’t run.”
We, the undersigned, are disappointed at the lack of responsibility PBS and WGBH Interactive has shown in airing this offensive material disguised as a child's learning television show.
We are asking PBS to withhold future broadcasts of this episode and discontinue airing this program and all other similar programs until indelible changes are evident. We are also asking for a public apology at the irresponsible nature of this program, a public condemnation for the obvious abuse and oversights filmed, and more accountability and responsibility for future programs, especially those involving animals, children, or target the family audience.
In the meantime, we will encourage parents to redirect their efforts and donations toward libraries and other educational materials and away from PBS, local PBS stations, and WGBH Interactive productions, as well as their sponsors’ products.