Indiana “Snapperfest”: Extreme cruelty to turtles, two petitions, one sample letter
Please protest Ohio County, Indiana, Snapperfest, an illegal and torturous event, by signing two Petitions and sending one Sample Letter. If you modify letter, please keep the included statutes defining Snapperfest as illegal, thank you.
BACKGROUND | FROM CHANGE
Ohio County, Indiana, is only showing itself of its delight in barbarity with its 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.
I feel it seriously disturbing how your County derives its entertainment. News of this is spreading across the nation-as a shameful spectacle.
Exposing society, especially children and young people, to animal cruelty leads to antisocial and deviant behavior.
http://www.jaapl.org/cgi/reprint/30/2/257.pdf
“A history of animal cruelty during childhood was significantly associated with APD, antisocial personality traits, and polysubstance abuse. Mental retardation, psychotic disorders, and alcohol abuse showed no such association.,” J Am Acad Psychiatry Law 30:257–65, 2002
I quote: National Institute of Health
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2792040/
“Cruelty to animals is associated with elevated rates observed in young, poor, men with family histories of antisocial behavior and personal histories of conduct disorder in childhood, and antisocial, obsessive-compulsive and histrionic personality disorders, and pathological gambling in adulthood. Given these associations, and the widespread ownership of pets and animals, effective screening of children, adolescents and adults for animal cruelty and appropriate mental health interventions should be deployed.”
Also, criminologists note that virtually every serial killer begun their “training” by killing animals because it was *entertaining*.
VIDEO FOOTAGE
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Stop torturing and killing turtles for entertainment
WHOM TO CONTACT
Email block:
Complete contact details:
The Honorable Connie J. Brown
Ohio County Commissioner
yvonnewalton@hotmail.com
812-438-4624
The Honorable Todd Walton
Ohio County Commissioner
twalton@cinergy.com
The Honorable Shane Koons
Ohio County Commissioner
812-584-0378
The Honorable Connie Smith
Ohio County Auditor
ohioctyauditor1@earthlink.net
812-438-2062
Campshore Campground
812-438-2135 (office)
812-290-5939 (cell)
info@campshorecampground.com
SAMPLE LETTER
To Whom It Concerns,
I am writing today to share my disturbance regarding the event “Snapperfest”. As established by footage and first-hand accounts, this event is characterized by the methodical torture of turtles in a demonstration of “entertainment”. During this event, a turtle is systematically brutalized, his tail and neck are pulled and ripped and his body is slammed repeatedly to the ground, all while he is fully conscious, subjecting him to what can only be considered excruciating pain and prolonged suffering and fear. Furthermore, according to Indiana law, this event should be classified as illegal considering that turtles are vertebrate animals.
Indiana law stipulates:
A person having a vertebrate animal in the person’s custody who recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally abandons or neglects the animal commits cruelty to an animal, a Class B misdemeanor. A person who knowingly or intentionally purchases or possesses an animal for the purpose of using the animal in an animal fighting contest commits a Class A misdemeanor. However, a person who knowingly or intentionally promotes or stages an animal fighting contest, uses an animal in a fighting contest, or attends an animal fighting contest having an animal in the person’s possession commits a Class D felony. Further, a person who knowingly or intentionally beats a vertebrate animal commits cruelty to an animal, a Class A misdemeanor. However, the offense is a Class D felony if the person has a previous, unrelated conviction under this section or the person knowingly or intentionally tortures or mutilates a vertebrate animal.
Intentional Acts
35-46-3-12 Beating vertebrate animal
http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/statestatutes/stusinset.htm
IN ST 35-46-3-.05 – 15; IN ST 36-8-3-18
As such, I, along with a national contingent of concerned citizens, implore upon you to act swiftly and responsibly by using your influence to enact an immediate moratorium on this illegal event, and, until such a time, I feel my only recourse is to promote a boycott of your state with respect to both tourism and commerce. Please provide your voice for others to observe their obligatory duty and responsibility by protecting animals, not sanctioning their torture; your ethical and dutiful gesture of legal authority would serve as an model of civil and community justice.
Thank you for your time and attention to this urgent issue.
NAME
SEE MORE:
the type of person who
would do this
is a fool
a lowlife moron
stupid and cruel
Karen Lyons Kalmenson
Trackbacks
- Call to Action: Sadistic Evil in Aurora, Indiana « CyberWhaleWarrior.com
- Wild Caught Turtles Tortured To Death « Champions for Cetaceans
- Snapperfest – What Are They Really Hiding? « CyberWhaleWarrior.com
- Budweiser Proudly Supports #Snapperfest « CyberWhaleWarrior.com
- Anheuser-Busch Denounces #Snapperfest « CyberWhaleWarrior.com
- Indiana – The #Snapperfest State « CyberWhaleWarrior.com
- Attn Gov Mitch Daniels @mymanmitch RE: #Snapperfest « CyberWhaleWarrior.com
- #Indiana #SNAPPERFEST: What We Can Do « CyberWhaleWarrior.com
- Operation: Halt #Snapperfest « CyberWhaleWarrior.com
- Operation:Halt #Snapperfest « Champions for Cetaceans
- News of #Indiana Snapperfest Spreading Worldwide « CyberWhaleWarrior.com
Our Compass 
the type of person who
would do this
is a fool
a lowlife moron
stupid and cruel
LikeLike
Petition signed and letter sent. Thank you very much! When I read the petition I almost died, I’m truly horrified and outraged: how can cruelty be considered a “fest”, that is something joyful? There is no limit to cruelty?
Sharing too x
LikeLike
Blog author, can you please include the links to local media. My friends and I have been on this all day…Indianapolis media says it is out of their jurisdiction…they referred us to Cincinnati.
LikeLike
Hi, Sandy, thanks for writing. I looked up Cincinnati, Indiana, and I got the zip code 47424. I then visited Congress.org where you can input any zip code and get a list of local media: http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/
I included above links to the relevant outlets.
LikeLike
OMG… this is truly horrid…signing and sharing
LikeLike
I called the Indiana state police. They said anything animal related is handled by the Indiana Conservation Office which is run by the DNR. Talked to that guy and filed a complaint. He gave me the contact info for the conservation office in that district. Will call them tomorrow. This is who has the power to stop this event, but unfortunately they are local, and they may not care. But their number is 812-689-4370, email icosr@dnr.in.gov. I will send them a link to the video of the guy pulling the head off the snapping turtle tonight.
Anyone else who wants to do the same, please do. It will help for them to hear from more than one person. This is a clear violation of Indiana Code, as outlined above.
LikeLike
fuking retarded sons of bitches
LikeLike
This one of the most disgusting, cruel PATHETIC sports I have ever seen. Anyone who partakes in this sport is a low life piece of scum – has not regard for living creatures. SHAME ON YOU
LikeLike
As a native to Indiana & 10y USN Spec Ops (EOD/Seal Team-3) veteran. I can honestly say I’ve never been more ashamed of my state. I didn’t fight and loose numerous friends to support cruel & cowardly behavior fm my statesmen.
Please ban this illegitimate an cruel activity know as “SnapperFest.”
Curtis S. Hall (ashamed Indiana native)
LikeLike
Just cannot believe this is considered acceptable – this is truly horrific. Have the ‘contestants’ involved have no feeling or compassion at all? And the people watching – they are as bad. I’m in the UK and am amazed that this is legal in the USA. Just truly awful. Poor animals.
LikeLike
it is not legal in the USA, that is why we are trying to bring attention to the authorities
LikeLike
This is disgusting and cruel. These turtles should not be tortured for entertainment. This needs to be illegal with heavy fines. Children are brought to this event, what is that teaching them? It could also traumatize children seeing the carnage.
LikeLike
Seems the entire town is very corrupt, if not sociopathic.
LikeLike
Hey asshole, not everyone who lives there partakes in this event. I am from there and have never even heard of it until now. You can’t judge a book by its cover, and can’t judge a place by its idiots.
LikeLike
Can the media in Indiana pressure the redneck police to do their jobs?
LikeLike
Hello,
I’m an animal policy reporter working near the Snapperfest location. If the event happens I’d like to be there, but I have not been able to learn what time it’s scheduled for; the campsite’s web site does not specify, and the local municipal government has distanced itself from the event.
Does anyone know what time Snapperfest is set to happen? Also, if anyone has noteworthy news on the event (a cancellation, e.g.), please let me know: editor@sentientcincinnati.com
Many thanks,
Fabien Tepper
* * * * * *
Editor, Sentient Cincinnati Newsblog
http://sentientcincinnati.com
LikeLike
I am totally sickened by this! I have sent letters to each of the Representatives listed above, and have signed the petitions. Has anyone heard anymore? God Please Stop this from happening today. I pray for God’s Blessings on Everyone and Everything!
LikeLike
Makes me want to kill people when I see this stuff.
LikeLike
As an employee of one of the “Local Media” listed above, we agree this festival is very cruel to animals and should not take place…however a small town newspaper that is 150 miles away is not going to have ANY influence on the matter. All of the “Local Media” listed above are over 140 miles away on the west side of the state near Illinois and should not even be referenced on this page. The event is located on the east side of the state near Ohio. Stop harassing the papers that have never even heard of this festival and should not be subject to the pressing phone calls.
LikeLike
I live 1000 miles away and don’t consider it harassment; we should ALL be concerned and take appropriate action. Animal cruelty has no borders. What are your paper’s feelings on tragedies that occur nationally or internationally? I don’t mean to sound disrespectful, but I sincerely have difficulty processing the “proximity” excuse to not be involved.
LikeLike
We are a small town paper that covers county-wide news. We don’t have the resources to cover something that is 150 miles away. Almost everything in our paper that is state/national/international comes from AP wire. Yes this event is cruel and needs to be stopped, however waylaying the receptionist doesn’t get anything accomplished. Anyone is welcome to submit a press release or a letter to the editor, we would be happy to consider publishing it.
LikeLike
Thank you for your response, I’ll update the alert with that information, that is helpful.
LikeLike
Sent, signed and shared
LikeLike
Stacey, I work for The Brazil Times and I see that someone from my office has already tried to inform you that the media listed above is not going to be able to influence an event that is nearly 3 hours 150 miles away. A simple Google search would bring up actual LOCAL MEDIA around Ohio County, Indiana. For example: http://www.theohiocountynews.com/index.php, or any news organization in Ohio, since they would be closer than we are. I understand that you feel the need to help out but what you are doing now — along the lines of media involvement — is grossly misguided. Maybe you don’t understand small town papers or maybe you are unfamiliar with where we are actually located at in Indiana seeing as how you are “1,000 miles away.” I am just trying to tell you, you need to change your media approach. It’s tough out there for all newspapers, and a small town paper like us is unable to provide coverage on an event nearly a state away. But you know what paper probably could? The Ohio County paper I listed above. I dislike the animal cruelty that is taking place, but getting sometimes as many as 100 emails a day, for almost the past year is making it difficult to do my own job, and the effort is getting wasted on my delete button. Now, wouldn’t 100 emails a day, to the correct news organizations help? Yes, I think so.
So what I’m asking you for, is to please take down the INCORRECT “local media” listed above and replace it with some that are less than 150 miles away.
If you are unable to properly perform a Google search to find more legitimate media organizations to bombard with these e-mails I would be glad to help.
Also, I’m assuming this is where the e-mails my coworkers and I have been getting are generated from, but if not let me know.
LikeLike
Stacey, I work for The Brazil Times and I see that someone from my office has already tried to inform you that the media listed above is not going to be able to influence an event that is nearly 3 hours 150 miles away. A simple Google search would bring up actual LOCAL MEDIA around Ohio County, Indiana. For example: http://www.theohiocountynews.com/index.php, or any news organization in Ohio, since they would be closer than we are. I understand that you feel the need to help out but what you are doing now — along the lines of media involvement — is grossly misguided. Maybe you don’t understand small town papers or maybe you are unfamiliar with where we are actually located at in Indiana seeing as how you are “1,000 miles away.” I am just trying to tell you, you need to change your media approach. It’s tough out there for all newspapers, and a small town paper like us is unable to provide coverage on an event nearly a state away. But you know what paper probably could? The Ohio County paper I listed above. I dislike the animal cruelty that is taking place, but getting sometimes as many as 100 emails a day, for almost the past year is making it difficult to do my own job, and the effort is getting wasted on my delete button. Now, wouldn’t 100 emails a day, to the correct news organizations help? Yes, I think so.
So what I’m asking you for, is to please take down the INCORRECT “local media” listed above and replace it with some that are less than 150 miles away.
If you are unable to properly perform a Google search to find more legitimate media organizations to bombard with these e-mails I would be glad to help.
Also, I’m assuming this is where the e-mails my coworkers and I have been getting are generated from, but if not let me know.
LikeLike