Texas Native Woody Harrelson Urges Governor to Ban Cruel ‘Wild Hog Catch’ Events

Actor Calls For End to ‘Bandera Bacon Bash’ After PETA Releases Disturbing Footage

For Immediate Release:
May 23, 2019

Contact:
Moira Colley 202-483-7382

Today, actor Woody Harrelson sent a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott urging him to shut down violent “wild hog catch” events like the one near Bandera, Texas, in which terrified, screaming pigs were chased, grabbed, and tormented, as was revealed in a recent PETA video.

“I have a lot of pride in my home state and …. [t]hat’s why I was shocked to learn about the cruelty that pigs are subjected to at something called the ‘Bacon Bash,’” writes the Midland native. “This violent spectacle encourages children and adults alike to scare, injure, and torment animals for entertainment. The world doesn’t need more bullies …. so I implore you to … issue an executive order banning this event.”

PETA’s eyewitnesses also recorded staff at the annual event dragging young pigs by one or more legs around the arena. Contestants chased the petrified animals; grabbed them by the ears, tail, or snout; lifted them off the ground by the legs; and stuffed them into sacks as they cried out. Many panicked animals leapt headfirst into the metal arena fencing as they frantically tried to escape, cutting and bloodying their faces.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment”—opposes speciesism, which is a supremacist view of the world. For more information, please visit PETA.org.

Harrelson’s letter to Abbott follows.

The Honorable Greg Abbott

Governor of Texas

Dear Gov. Abbott,

I have a lot of pride in my home state and the compassionate, independent spirit of my fellow Texans. That’s why I was shocked to learn about the cruelty that pigs are subjected to at something called the “Bacon Bash” held near Bandera.

At this year’s event in March, which eyewitnesses recorded, screaming, frightened pigs were chased around an arena. They were grabbed by their ears, tails, and snouts and hauled by their legs while their faces were dragged through the sand and they desperately tried to escape. Participants tackled pigs, jumped on them, and hit them, and event staff kicked them in the head.

This violent spectacle encourages children and adults alike to scare, injure, and torment animals for entertainment. The world doesn’t need more bullies. Texas law prohibits inflicting unnecessary and unjustified pain and suffering on animals, so I implore you to make sure that the law is upheld here—and to issue an executive order banning this event.

Thank you for your attention to this crucial matter.

Sincerely,

Woody Harrelson