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this video was taken at Snapperfest, the turtle torture event in Ohio County, Indiana on August 20, 2011.

This event is considered by the local people as "good ole fun" or "family entertainment".

Somehow this idiotic, barbaric event has been allowed to continue for 15 years despite the fact that it is clearly against the law - Indiana code 35-46-3; Torture, Beating, mutilation of vertebrate animals

http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title35/ar46/ch3.html

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.

A turtle is considered to be a vertebrate animal with a unique skeleton. This means that a turtle's shell is more than an outer covering, it is an integral part of the animal's body. As the turtle develops inside the egg its shoulder blade remains inside the rib cage. During the turtle's early embryology when its skeleton is forming, the shoulder blade and the ribs become part of the shell.

People from all corners of the world had implored Governor Mitch Daniels to stop this event but the governor has failed to respond to the hundreds of comments on his facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/MyManMitchFans

More information about this idiotic, cruel event can be found here:

http://www.piaberrend.org/turtle-torture-event-in-ohio-county-indiana-snapperfest/