Pig, calf scrambles pulled from winter fair

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This article was published 26/03/2022 (1318 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BRANDON — Animal rights groups are applauding the end of the piggy and calf scrambles at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair.

The Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba pulled the events four days before the fair is set to begin, on Monday. It runs until April 2.

The scrambles involve children between seven and 11 years old chasing piglets or calves in a race to capture one for cash prizes. Animal welfare groups in Brandon and Winnipeg called the events unsafe for the animals and children.

“The health and welfare of our animals is important to us and has always been a top priority,” said Kathy Cleaver, president of the provincial exhibition, in a statement. No further comment was given.

Concern about the scrambles is not new but a March 15 letter from Animal Justice, a Canadian animal law advocacy organization, formally called on organizers to cancel the activities. The letter was co-signed by the Winnipeg Humane Society and supported by the Brandon Humane Society.

No one involved in this campaign is against the fair, said Brandon Humane Society director Tracy Munn.

“I say good on them for putting the pigs’ (welfare) first, and I think it’s good kids don’t have to see that growing up,” she said. “It’s been a long time coming and I’m glad it’s done. There’s enough violence in the world.”

Winnipeg Humane Society animal welfare consultant Brittany Semeniuk was surprised the scrambles were cancelled, and on very short notice, too. She did not receive any notification from fair organizers and only learned about it when told by the Brandon Sun. The fair had submitted a safety plan for the scrambles, she said, so she didn’t expect them to be cancelled.

“This move brings the fair one step closer to aligning with a progressive society and how modern-day society views and treats animals.”

There could also be legal issues with calf and pig scrambles, said Kaitlyn Mitchell, the Winnipeg-based staff lawyer for Animal Justice.

In an email, she said the organization is thrilled fair organizers took their concerns seriously.

“Encouraging youth to chase and grab at frightened, helpless pigs and calves is antiquated and completely inhumane, and would have also violated federal and provincial animal cruelty laws,” she said.

“We hope that the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair will cancel its pig and calf scrambles for good, just as fairs across Canada have done.”

The provincial exhibition didn’t say whether the scrambles will be gone for good.

Fairs in Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have cancelled animal scrambles over cruelty concerns.

— Brandon Sun