I went to this rodeo and it sucked but not because of the pig tote
The rodeo sucked because the announcer was a racist, sexist asshole who belittled women and minorities and gays, among many others. They also dropped the flag on the ground.
This is the press release from the People for Ethical Treatment for Animals:
Farmington, Ga. — PETA has fired off a letter to Dr. Michael Adams, president of the University of Georgia (UGA), urging him to make this year’s "pig tote" race in UGA’s Great Southland Stampede Rodeo the university’s last. PETA’s request follows a rash of complaints from UGA students and faculty that the baby pigs used in the event are obviously frightened, often attempt to escape, and have even suffered painful broken bones. In the pig tote, competitors thrust baby pigs by their hind legs into wheelbarrows and begin the race, during which the animals sometimes fall out and are tossed back in.
Besides the frightening noise of the crowd and having to cope with strange surroundings, the baby pigs particularly suffer when they are hoisted up by their legs. According to orthopedic surgeon Dr. Joseph J. DiBartolo, "The anatomical properties of ball and socket joints [do] not permit the torsional stresses imposed on pigs …."
"In addition to the fear and pain endured by the animals, events like pig totes send the dangerous message that ridiculing and abusing others who aren’t quite like you is not only tolerated but encouraged," says PETA Director Debbie Leahy. "UGA’s rodeo is shameful and should end, and we’re calling on Dr. Adams to at least make sure that that his school never again conducts anything as blatantly foolish and cruel as the pig tote."
PETA’s letter to UGA President Dr. Michael Adams is available upon request. For more information, please visit PETA.org.
This is the press release from the People for Ethical Treatment for Animals:
Farmington, Ga. — PETA has fired off a letter to Dr. Michael Adams, president of the University of Georgia (UGA), urging him to make this year’s "pig tote" race in UGA’s Great Southland Stampede Rodeo the university’s last. PETA’s request follows a rash of complaints from UGA students and faculty that the baby pigs used in the event are obviously frightened, often attempt to escape, and have even suffered painful broken bones. In the pig tote, competitors thrust baby pigs by their hind legs into wheelbarrows and begin the race, during which the animals sometimes fall out and are tossed back in.
Besides the frightening noise of the crowd and having to cope with strange surroundings, the baby pigs particularly suffer when they are hoisted up by their legs. According to orthopedic surgeon Dr. Joseph J. DiBartolo, "The anatomical properties of ball and socket joints [do] not permit the torsional stresses imposed on pigs …."
"In addition to the fear and pain endured by the animals, events like pig totes send the dangerous message that ridiculing and abusing others who aren’t quite like you is not only tolerated but encouraged," says PETA Director Debbie Leahy. "UGA’s rodeo is shameful and should end, and we’re calling on Dr. Adams to at least make sure that that his school never again conducts anything as blatantly foolish and cruel as the pig tote."
PETA’s letter to UGA President Dr. Michael Adams is available upon request. For more information, please visit PETA.org.
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