Plans for Petco Park rodeo draws animal rights complaints from San Diego Democrats

SAN DIEGO — A three-day rodeo scheduled for Petco Park in January is prompting complaints about animal cruelty from the county Democratic Party and animal rights advocates. They are lobbying San Diego officials and the Padres to cancel the event, which would be the first rodeo ever at Petco and the first within the city since one at the sports arena in the 1980s. If the event isn't canceled, critics want the City Council to approve an ordinance banning the use of animal torture devices during rodeos. The Padres said in a statement that the team has been assured by the group running the rodeo t...