Animal rights protest scrapped after "greased pig" dust-up

NEWPORT, N.H. (AP) — An international animal advocacy group launched a protest against a New Hampshire winter carnival event billed as a "Greased Pig on Ice," but withdrew it after learning there's no pig in the act — just a man on skates in a pig costume with dollar bills tied to his tail.

Steve Smith, an organizer of the 100th Newport Winter Carnival, said People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, launched its alert last week despite his reassurances that no pigs would be harmed during the Saturday event.

The topic of adding a greased pig event to this year's carnival did come up during a planning meeting last fall when organizers were brainstorming about possible past events that could be incorporated into the centennial.

Stephanie Bell, a director at PETA's cruelty investigations department, said the organization receives more complaints about pig wrestling events than it does greased pig competitions.

In the carnival's brochure of scheduled activities, the full listing of the greased pig event offers one clue, however: Put on your skates and see if you can catch him.