Wisconsin Church Scraps 44-Year-Old Pig Wresting Event After Accusations of Animal Crime

A Catholic church in Wisconsin has decided to scrap its 44-year-old annual pig wrestling event after an online petition was launched branding the tradition a crime.

The St. Patrick Catholic Parish in Stephensville will be holding its 2015 Roundup on Aug. 8 and 9 but without the Original Pig Rassle.

"It is with great regret that we have discontinued the Original Pig Rassle. We are however, very excited to begin this new tradition at St. Patrick Parish," the parish said in a statement.

It said that it could spend in areas that are "less controversial."

"After much prayer and many hours of discussion, we realize that what we had for 44 years in the Original Pig Rassle was memorable, legal and great family fun. We also realize that our parish and diocesan talents could be better spent in areas that are less controversial," the parish explained.

"This is huge," announced the Global Conservation Group, which launched the online petition last year on Change.org urging the church to discontinue the pig wresting event.

The permanent cancellation of the pig rassling event came after the petition was signed by more than 81,000 people.

According to the petition, the Pig Rassle is an event where the animals are "punched in the face, kicked, body-slammed, jumped on, yelled at and thrown into a bucket."

Last August, the group said, about 37 pigs were abused in the Pig Rassle event hosted by the parish. The pigs were later slaughtered.

Branding it as an illegal animal fighting, the Pig Rassle is in violation of Wisconsin's "Crimes Against Animals" law that makes cockfighting, dogfighting, and any other similar fighting between animals or animals and humans illegal.

The Group said "being a spectator of such an event is also in violation of Chapter 951" and those prosecuted can face felony animal fighting charges.