Judge adds protections for San Diego Rodeo animals at Petco Park

A San Diego judge issued a mixed ruling this week in an animal rights lawsuit concerning rodeos staged at Petco Park, finding that pregnant mares should no longer be allowed to compete and that onsite medical equipment must be adequate and “comprehensive” enough to provide care for the large animals. The 21-page statement of decision issued Tuesday by San Diego Superior Court Judge Joel Wohlfeil does not end the rodeos, which have been controversial. The judge noted that the purpose of the suit was to prohibit practices that “allegedly subject the animals to ‘needless suffering’ or ‘unnecessary cruelty.’” Wohlfeil’s ruling comes after he...