Whaleyville event draws ire of animal rights proponents

Motorcycle enthusiast celebrations kick off this weekend and already there is some controversy regarding a Whaleyville bar’s event.

Oasis Bar and Grill, off Old Ocean City Road, is holding its annual “Oasis Bar and Thrill” celebration, which started on Thursday. Scheduled for today and Saturday is an event being billed as “Greased Midgets vs Greased Pigs.”

“I think that in this modern society and day and age, this is a barbaric event,” said Susanne Hoshino, founder and operator of Kindness Matters Rescue Inc., a nonprofit shelter in Berlin. “The poor little pigs are going to be terrified. It’s going to be overwhelming. Especially for a baby pig. How would (the proprietors) feel if it were baby humans? Having grown adults chase them around?”

Hoshino pointed out that pigs are relatively intelligent animals that “have feelings” themselves.

“It’s just awful. I don’t know what they’re thinking,” she said.

The Worcester County Humane Society also issued a statement.

“(We) strongly oppose and disapprove of events such as the Greased Midgets vs. Greased Pigs event, which is cruel and traumatizing to animals,” it read.

Worcester County released a joint statement assembled by both the Animal Control Office and Development, Review and Permitting that ultimately said that event itself doesn’t constitute any sort of violation.

“While the Animal Control Division of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office does not condone the greased pig event, no standing laws are prohibiting this type of event,” said Kim Moses, county public information officer.

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Publishers Notes: It was OK for the Wicomico County Farm and Home Show to throw goats all around and hog tie them.