UTAH COUNTY -- Wannabe cowboys wrestled pigs into a barrel at the Utah County Fair this week, while thousands cheered them on.
Now animal rights groups are coming forward to ask people how they think the pigs feel.
Two thousand people attended the pig wrestling event and the organizers said there were more participants than time.
“I had people at the first of June turning in entry forms,” said Marcia Harris, the chair of the Pig Wrestling Event. “I had to turn people away.”
One animal rights group in Utah County said it pleaded with the fair to cancel the event, arguing that pig wrestling is cruel to the animals. Other animal advocates, like the Humane Society of Utah, said putting pigs through that kind of stress for entertainment is selfish.
“In a situation like this, the people have the choice to do so, they have consent, they have free will,” said Carl Arky; Director of Communications, Humane Society of Utah. “Animals don't have consent. They don't have free will. They are confused, they are bewildered, they don't know what is going on. So why treat them this way?”
The pig wranglers say this is just one time the city folk don't understand what goes on in the country.
“These pigs are very well take care off,” Harris said.
