OK, I have to contain my rage with this one.
You have just got to be kidding me.
Ohio County, Indiana, is home to an extraordinarily cruel event called "Snapperfest"—next scheduled for this Saturday, August 20! Every year at the Campshore Campground, wild-caught snapping turtles endure terrible violence at the hands of participants. The frightened animals are grabbed by their tails and repeatedly slammed to the ground. Their heads are yanked from their shells, and they are then swung around until "contestants" are able to wrap their fists around the animals' necks.
STOP THIS EVENT!
PETA, without success, appealed to the compassion of the Ohio County commissioners. Now it's your turn. Please contact the commissioners and the campground, as well as Rising Sun Council Members, and politely ask that they do the right thing and replace this cruel event. And please spread this alert far and wide.
Please send polite comments to:
The Honorable Connie J. Brown
Ohio County Commissioner
yvonnewalton@hotmail.com
The Honorable Todd Walton
Ohio County Commissioner
twalton@cinergy.com
The Honorable Connie Smith
Ohio County Auditor
ohioctyauditor1@earthlink.net
Campshore Campground
812-438-2135 (office)
812-290-5939 (cell)
info@campshorecampground.com
Councilman Pro-Tem Mike Padgett
mpadgett@orvcomm.com
(812) 438-3340
Councilman Steve Slack
sslack@orvcomm.com
(812) 438-3340
Councilman Lynn Graves
lgraves@orvcomm.com
(812) 438-3340
Councilman Bud Radcliff
bradcliff@orvcomm.com
(812) 438-3340
Councilman Roy Powell
rpowell@orvcomm.com
(812) 438-3340
Call or write and report back at StreetTeam@peta2.com for 1,000 points.
people are just plain stupid and ignorant
Totally agree with you! I am so not proud of the company I have. Humans are so cruel
DNR are probably all hunters themselves…Read this excerpt from a piece by Anthony Marr.
“Democracy means majority-rule, but minority-rule by power elite is not uncommon, if not rampant. And it could even be written into the constitution itself. The constitution of New Jersey, for example, stipulates that of the 11 voting member of the Fish & Game Council, 6 must be hunters. In most such case, all 11 are hunters, because any odd-man-out will be ostracized mercilessly until he/she quits. This is pseudo-majority-rule within the Council, but real minority rule in the entire state of New Jersey. The result is a set of hunting laws by hunters, for hunters, while the non-hunters and anti-hunters of New Jersey, be they hikers, campers, photographers, bird-watchers, biologists, ecologists…, who add up to 99.2% of the population (only 0.8% of New Jerseyan's hunt) have no say in the matter whatsoever. Some democracy.”—-Anthony Marr
from Petercheff, Linnea
date Tue, Aug 23, 2011 at 2:30 PM
subject snapperfest
Thank you for contacting the State of Indiana about the event known as Snapperfest.
Snapperfest is an annual event at a private campground in Indiana at which individuals are timed on how quickly they can capture a common snapping turtle, coax the turtle to stick its head out, and grab it by the neck without killing it and without getting bitten.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has investigated this matter, including a visit to the recent Snapperfest. The event organizer told IDNR that current contest rules prohibit individuals from smacking the turtles on the ground as was seen in a YouTube video circulated widely on the Internet.
To our knowledge and from our onsite observation, this abuse is no longer allowed at Snapperfest, and we are told the individual seen in the YouTube video can no longer participate in the event.
The IDNR has an interest here to the extent of ensuring that all applicable laws are followed with respect to a wild animal.
The common snapping turtle is one of three turtles considered a game species in Indiana. The other two are the smooth softshell turtle and spiny softshell turtle. All three are subject to state laws that regulate their taking from the wild. Those laws include the purchase and possession of a fishing or hunting license for anyone age 18 or older, plus a daily bag limit and possession limit. Furthermore, Indiana law prohibits the sale of all native turtle species.
Many individuals who have voiced objection to Snapperfest point to the animal cruelty laws found in Indiana Code 35-46-3. However, that law is not applicable in this instance because it provides an exemption for wild animals that are legally taken and possessed under the authority of Indiana Code 14-22.
This is an email I received in response to my snapperfest emails. From Petercheff, Linnea" <lpetercheff@dnr.IN.gov
Petercheff, Linnea" <lpetercheff@dnr.IN.gov
Thank you for contacting the State of Indiana about the event known as Snapperfest.
Snapperfest is an annual event at a private campground in Indiana at which individuals are timed on how quickly they can capture a common snapping turtle, coax the turtle to stick its head out, and grab it by the neck without killing it and without getting bitten.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has investigated this matter, including a visit to the recent Snapperfest. The event organizer told IDNR that current contest rules prohibit individuals from smacking the turtles on the ground as was seen in a YouTube video circulated widely on the Internet.
To our knowledge and from our onsite observation, this abuse is no longer allowed at Snapperfest, and we are told the individual seen in the YouTube video can no longer participate in the event.
The IDNR has an interest here to the extent of ensuring that all applicable laws are followed with respect to a wild animal.
The common snapping turtle is one of three turtles considered a game species in Indiana. The other two are the smooth softshell turtle and spiny softshell turtle. All three are subject to state laws that regulate their taking from the wild. Those laws include the purchase and possession of a fishing or hunting license for anyone age 18 or older, plus a daily bag limit and possession limit. Furthermore, Indiana law prohibits the sale of all native turtle species.
Many individuals who have voiced objection to Snapperfest point to the animal cruelty laws found in Indiana Code 35-46-3. However, that law is not applicable in this instance because it provides an exemption for wild animals that are legally taken and possessed under the authority of Indiana Code 14-22.
I wish someone who knows would inform everyone of whether we succeeded in stopping this event. Thank you to everyone who made calls and emails. I spoke to the County Sheriff and he said he didn't think what was going on constituted torture! I asked him to promise me he would stop it if they were killing the turtles. (How do you swing a vertebrate animal around by the neck without killing it?). He had received other calls and was going to "check it out". I also wrote to Tourism Dept. and all the other contacts listed. Sounds like those in authority were pretty apathetic. I would like to go further with this if it happened but we need PETA's support here. Please let us all know the outcome and next steps. Thank you.
ROGER MONTPETIT, PLEASE BEFRIEND ME ON F/B…I GOT IN THERE AND WAS ESCORTED OUT. I WILL GIVE YOU SOME INFO. THANKS.
WTF!?!?!?! D:
Any mockery of the animals is cruel, this can only scum! how can they live on this earth? It's not people!!!
OH MY GOD THAT IS TRULEY EVIL o.0
do they like have nothing better to do up there???really? i guess unevolved people live in ohio.(no offense to those who are evolved and are from ohio!)
Hi Karla, the state of Ohio certainly has animal cruelty problems, but I believe this was from Ohio county, in the state of Indiana.
this reminds me of s "fundraiser" a school was doing here on New Mexico a few months back.For every wolf you killed you got $50.00.This was insane!!!!!!The reporter who was announcing this cruel and inhuman fundraiser was snickering!!!!!I blame the governor!! she's a b**ch!!!!!
sorry i meant coyotes
http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/hunting/2010/11/protested-coyote-hunt-school-fundraiser-garners-huge-turnout
Please cancel this event. Torturing is NOT entertainment!
As I see potential health violations as snapping turtles carry SALMONELLA and other parasites, the people in a PUBLIC GATHERING are grabbing these turtles full of diseases including putting the heads into their mouths (biting them?). The water is full of Salmonella and it splashes on the audience. Most likely FOOD and beverages are being served. I reported this entire matter to the DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH in Indiana for possible violation of health codes in a public place. Children learn from the parents posing danger of handling dangerous wildlife (if these turtles bite these children can lose their fingers).
As far as I'm concerned, this "sport" ranks right down there with cock fighting, dog fighting, bear baiting and any other mishandling of animals who cannot protect themselves. What a bunch of barbarians. I am ashamed for them and of them. What next?
We no longer have to wonder where sadistic children from in Indiana. They learn it from their sadistic fathers.
id hurt him if he was the turtle !!!! urrr >:(
stop such events, this is pure cruelty!
Don't these people have anything else to do than torture a poor defenseless animal? These people are sick and need to be punished for this crime against nature!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PLEASE PUT A STOP TO THIS 'EVENT!!!!' There is NOTHING redeeming about this behavior. And the fact that it is PROMOTED AND PERMITTED is sickening. Another reason to be embarrased to be a Hoosier. It must stand for Who's ur dumbass?!
This overweight waste of space on this earth & poor exuse for a human being should be working or doing some REAL exercise.
I hope others will have the courage to speak up for the true innocent…..NON-human creatures. They have no voice and need us so desparately.
They are sick!
I just sent emails to each of the emails listed above. I'm so appalled by this it makes me sick. I am from the state of Indiana, time and time again individuals mostly living in small towns (from what I have experienced) find it funny to do such things to innocent animals. They are uneducated to say the least. How stupid can one be to think that this is ok?? I am determined to help put a stop to this. i cannot get my head around this!