Under-Fire Church Cancels Pig-Wrestling Event

A US church has cancelled its annual pig wrestling tournament following complaints animals are "punched" and "body-slammed" at the event.

St Patrick Catholic Parish, in Stephensville, Wisconsin, has held its controversial "Original Pig Rassle" for the past 44 years.

The fundraiser sees competitors attempt to wrestle a pig into a bucket in a mud-filled pen as crowds cheer them on.

Animal lovers have long complained that the event is cruel to the hogs.

Now the church has cancelled this year's tournament, on 8 and 9 August, after an online petition against the event was signed by more than 81,000 people.

The church announced on its website: "After much prayer and many hours of discussion, we realise that what we had for 44 years in the Original Pig Rassle was memorable, legal and great family fun.

"We also realise that our parish and diocesan talents could be better spent in areas that are less controversial.

"It is with great regret that we have discontinued the Original Pig Rassle."

It is replacing the event with a mud football tournament.

Last year, teams wrestled 37 pigs that were slaughtered after the event, according to the Global Conservation Group, an animal welfare group based in Wisconsin.

It says the pigs were "punched in the face, kicked, body-slammed and yelled at for over three hours. After the event, all 37 animals were brutally slaughtered."

The group accused the church of breaking a state law that prohibits humans from fighting animals.