Humane Society asked to leave Hanover Fair over Papier-Maché pig, cage for a human size

Winnipeg Human Society employees say they are disappointed that the organization was asked to leave the Hanover AG Fair in Grunthal, man, on Saturday, after setting up an animal welfare screen with a papier-mâché pig and a cage of humans during the event on Saturday.

The human society said the display was meant to increase the consciousness around pregnancy crates or “sowing stalls” metal, cage-like housings that are about two meters long and half a meter wide.

Krista Boryskavich, a lawyer for the interests of animals at the Winnipeg Humane Society, says that pregnancy crates are “hardly bigger than the animal itself”, so that the animal leaves little room to turn around.

The staff of the human crate that was brought to the stock market was meant to simulate that experience and fill a conversation, she said.

“Pigs are very intelligent beings, so this is a matter of mental well -being, as well as a problem with physical well -being,” she said.

The Human Society was asked to leave the fair about three and a half hours after setting up.

“We promote the dialogue about a number of very important issues of animal welfare and we are a bit uncertain about why that was not acceptable,” said Boryskavich.

“The dialogue is important and should have continued.”

The Hanover AG Society, who runs the annual Summer Fair, said that the seller gave room to the human society “in the assumption that they would promote their adoptive programs for pets,” in a Statement posted on social media.

Boryskavich said that the supplier application of the organization did not mention adoptions.

The Human Society has been bringing Charlotte the paper -mâché -pig and her cage to events in Manitoba for decades, Boryskavich said. As far as she knows, this is the first time they are asked to leave.

Earlier this summer, Charlotte went to the Winnipeg Fringe Festival and the Manitoba Sunflower Festival in Altona, Man. She has planned a few market events until the end of August.

“We have existed this crate for decades and the issue has not disappeared, these crates have not disappeared,” said Boryskavich.

According to the National Fooled Animal Care Council, pregnancy crates were supposed to be phased out on July 1, 2024, in favor of group pens. That deadline was pushed back to 2029.

About half of Manitoba pig producers still use pregnancy crates, said Boryskavich.

She said that the human society brought the display to Hanover because it was a good opportunity to meet directly with producers.

“We are not looking to create controversy, but we want to have that discussion and talk about ways in which we can improve animal welfare in a meaningful way,” said Boryskavich.

“This is not a gap between urban countryside about values or issues. I think there is compassion and empathy, regardless of whether you live in Winnipeg or whether you live in the Manitoba countryside,” she said.

CBC News reached for the Hanover Agricultural Fair, but received no response before publication.