Live Reindeer Don't Belong in a Sporting Goods Store

Each year, as Christmas approaches, shopping malls and stores around the country begin to advertise live reindeer events. While attending these events may be innocent holiday fun for shoppers — the reindeer that are forced to perform have a very different experience.

Reindeer, typically found in huge herds in icy Arctic temperatures, are often isolated and confined to tiny holding areas under unnatural, glaring lights, surrounded by people and noise for days on end. Most don't get to enjoy anything close to a natural habitat for any part of the time that they are subjected to captivity.

That's why we're asking Scheels All Sports to cancel its upcoming reindeer event on December 14 at its River Hills Mall location in Minnesota.

Scheels has 27 locations across 13 states — and each year, several have them have live reindeer events. The sporting goods store has already held at least two other reindeer events this year, one in Iowa and one in North Dakota.

But these types of events are extremely detrimental to reindeer and must be stopped. According to the Captive Animal Protection Society (CAPS), many reindeer used for Christmas events have died from "poor management and their special dietary and environmental requirements." The group also discourages families from attending any of these events since children seeing animals used as entertainment can promote damaging messages that animals are nothing but "living props."

Christmas is a magical enough time for families without needing to exploit reindeer and other animals for a quick photo opp.

Please sign this petition demanding that Scheels All Sports cancel future reindeer events, this year and beyond.
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