A Wisconsin church announced it was ending a long-standing wrestling tradition of pigs vs. people after receiving complaints from an animal rights group, Christian Today reported.
St. Patrick's Parish in Stephensville made the change after 81,000 people signed a Change.org petition calling for an end to its Original Pig Rassle, a mud-filled pig wrestling tournament held at the church's annual summer fundraiser for the last 44 years.
Church officials would not comment on what led to the petition, the newspaper reported.
According to the Wisconsin-based Global Conservation Group, which started the petition, the pigs were being "punched in the face, kicked, body-slammed, jumped on, yelled at and thrown into a bucket" at the Pig Rassle, which also violates state anti-animal fighting laws.
A total of 37 pigs were included in last year's tournament, all of which were killed after the event, the group said.
For the church, the pig rassle, featuring teams of people against pigs, "was memorable, legal and great family fun," according to a statement obtained by Christian Today.
However, "we also realize that our parish and diocesan talents could be better spent in areas that are less controversial."
Instead of pigs against humans, the church said its next fundraiser, to be held in August, will feature an all-human mud football game.
"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."