 They declared, "Anyone who knows about boys will know that [...] the mice will be prodded unmercifully to ginger them up".An advocate of the activity replied in defense, "No cruelty is imposed on the creature since experience shows that mice derive much enjoyment from their wheel turning activity".More recently, animal rights societies in New Zealand criticized mouse races at local taverns, noting that the often-loud audiences could frighten the mice with their cheering.