The coronavirus pandemic has rightfully put the brakes on most public holiday displays, yet that hasn't stopped some breeders from hauling reindeer around the country to tug at heartstrings and open wallets. Rudolph is a beloved movie character, but real-life reindeer don't want to pull sleighs or pose for pictures.
Reindeer are fascinating, complex animals. Also called caribou, they migrate across vast mountain ranges farther than any other known terrestrial mammal — up to 3,000 miles annually. They travel in large herds to protect each other from predators and can run nearly 50 miles per hour. Reindeer are able to tolerate extreme cold because they have two coats and their bodies are covered with fur from their nose to the bottom of their feet. Their hooves act as paddles for swimming across wide rivers, and their eyes change color seasonally to accommodate differing light levels.
So imagine how it feels to these far-ranging animals to be jammed into tractor-trailers and corralled in cramped pens. Being used as holiday props means that everything that gives their lives meaning is gone. They can't forage, socialize with their extended herd or walk long distances as they're meant to do. It's stressful and completely unnatural for them to be in the middle of a mall, parking lot or bustling Christmas tree tent.
Even in the absence of a pandemic, these kinds of displays put public health at risk. Reindeer can harbor tetanus, leptospirosis, Lyme disease, rabies, tapeworms and ringworm. These large, strong animals tend to be skittish and unpredictable — and they don't enjoy being harnessed and petted. How baffling and stressful it must be for wild animals to be standing next to a shoe store or a cookie kiosk! And nothing ruins a Christmas outing faster than a trip to the ER.
Reindeer aren't the only animals exploited during the holidays. Camels, donkeys and sheep are still used as living scenery in Nativity creches and passion plays, even though there have been incidents in which animals used in such displays have been have beaten, sexually assaulted or attacked by dogs or cruel people.
Horse-drawn carriages are ubiquitous during the holiday season. Knowing that their window of profitability is short, operators may work horses night and day. Focused on making money, they may ignore the horses' basic needs — including food, water and rest. Horses can become exhausted and ill. Since the harnesses and tackle are rarely removed, many may develop sores and abrasions not visible to the paying public.
As human beings with the ability to make compassionate and ethical choices, we must recognize that animals don't want to be used as props, no matter what the occasion is. The holidays are a time for goodwill and kindness, not for carting sensitive animals around to bustling, frightening events.
