Welfare critics take on Quebec festival

Saturday, October 3, 2015

The Montreal SPCA and PETA have criticized a festival in Quebec for using live pigs, the Montreal Gazette reports.

Sainte-Perpétue, located approximately 30 kilometres south of Trois-Riviéres, has been holding its Festival du Cochon (Pig Festival) since 1978. According to the Gazette, for the last two years the festival has faced criticism from animal welfare groups for its use of live pigs in some events.  These include wrestling a greased pig in mud and an "extreme boar challenge." Like many small-town festivals, Sainte-Perpétue hopes to make money and boost tourism. Canada International reports that 6,000 people come each year to see the festival. Montreal SPCA spokesperson Anita Kapuscinska told the Gazette that "we would never allow dogs to be subject to this sort of activity," and urged concerned citizens to boycott this and other such events. Gemma Vaughan, cruelty caseworker for the international animal rights group PETA, told the Montreal Gazette, "Tradition is no excuse for cruelty."

According to Radio Canada International, this year Sainte-Perpétue put up signs around the festival grounds warning that protests during the festival would not be tolerated. BP