Brisbane residents threaten to boycott council’s Chritsmas Parade because of live deer

FAMILIES are threatening to boycott Brisbane’s Christmas parade after activists slammed the event for being cruel.

A reindeer (red deer) used in the Brisbane City Council Christmas Parade. Picture: Tim Marsden

CLAIMS of exploitation and cruelty are plaguing a Brisbane Christmas event designed to bring joy to residents.

Families have threatened to boycott Brisbane City Council’s annual Christmas Parade this year over fears live animals used in the parade are “stressed” and “scared”.

Finance and Economic Development chairwoman Krista Adams said the two deer, three camels, donkey and two sheep in the parade were a “crowd favourite” but many residents rebut these claims.

To date council’s Facebook page has received 27 comments complaining about the use of live animals — none of which have received a public response from council.

Resident Bec Huysse posted that animal exploitation needed to stop.

“Stop using these innocent animals as entertainment and find a more creative way to express Christmas joy aside from torturing innocent animals. Christmas is about joy and love, no exploitation and pain,” she wrote.

A post asked for Brisbane City Council to change with the times and stop using live deer in the parade.

Katrina Koutsellis said seeing deer used for human entertainment was “upsetting and offensive” and begged council to reconsider their use of live animals.

Cr Adams said the red deer used were locally bred and supplied by a family-run business and there were strict arrangements in place to protect animals’ safety and wellbeing.

“This includes each deer appearing at a maximum of eight events each year, with each event lasting no longer than one hour,” she said.

Cr Adams said RSPCA had certified the health and care arrangements of the deer but an RSPCA spokesman said this wasn’t the case.

“RSPCA does not provide ‘certification’ in these circumstances, we simply identify if there is a breach of the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001,” he said.

“RSPCA can confirm complaints have been received in relation to this matter. At present we have not identified any welfare breaches under the Act.”

A little girl rides a reindeer (red deer) in the parade. Picture: Tim Marsden

The spokesman said while RSPCA was unable to comment on the specific complaints they wanted to clarify that the deer used were red deer as opposed to reindeer and were used to the Queensland climate and found in many suburbs in an around Brisbane.

Council captured 315 wild deer in the past three years as part of their pest management program.

In the past financial year wild deer were most commonly sighted at Pullenvale, Brookfield, Jindalee, Upper Brookfield and Pinjarra Hills.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) are backing residents’ concerns and have called on Lord Mayor Graham Quirk “to stop being a grinch to animals” and ban the use of live animals in any further Christmas events.

PETA campaign co-ordinator Claire Fryer has taken the fight as far as offering to dress up as a reindeer and help pull Santa’s sleigh herself.

“As yet, no one from the council has been in touch to take me up on the proposal,” Ms Fryer said.

“PETA is concerned for the welfare of all animals used for entertainment, including the camels, donkey and sheep forced to participate in the Brisbane Christmas parade.

“When we wrote to the council, we asked that they make the humane decision of not using live animals of any kind at their events

“There are many cruelty free ways for the people of Brisbane to celebrate the holidays that would be far more in keeping with the Christmas spirit than treating scared animals like decorations.”

The Christmas Parade will run in Brisbane CBD from December 16-24.