Judge dismisses PETA’s lawsuit against Bandera Wranglers, PETA says they will appeal

A lawsuit filed by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) against the Bandera Wranglers has been dismissed by the 198th Judicial Court on the grounds that PETA and it’s co-plaintiff are not eligible to under Texas law to make its allegations, but PETA says they will be appealing that ruling.

PETA filed a lawsuit on June 8, 2020, alleging that the Wranglers’ Bandera Ham Rodeo was in violation of Texas’ cruelty-to-animals law and also violated several Texas public health and decency laws.

That lawsuit followed challenges to the Wranglers’ event by PETA going back as far as 2019 that included radio ads, billboards, petitions and an open letter to Governor Greg Abbott from actor Woody Harrelson.

Jeff Kerr, General Counsel for PETA, said that they will be appealing the decision.

“PETA is appealing the dismissal of its lawsuit against the Bandera Wranglers on a procedural point, and we eagerly await the opportunity to argue and prove in court that chasing, dragging, and raking terrified, injured pigs through the dirt violates the law because it is cruel to the animals and poses a disease risk to humans. In the meantime, we urge kind people to avoid these hideous ‘hog catch’ spectacles at all costs,” Kerr said. Nick Barron, former Bandera Wranglers President and former Bandera Ham Radio organizer, said that the court’s decision shows why Bandera is the Cowboy Capital of the World.

“We stood up for what we believed in. We stood to protect our way of life and ensure that rodeos and other similar events would not come into PETA’s crosshairs next. We will never bow down o their demands or back down from a fight. Today was a huge victory for us and Texas,’ Barron said.