ANIMAL activists are squealing over a pig race at an iconic Brisbane pub, saying the annual event needs to stop.
The Paddington Tavern, in the city's inner-west, is holding the race on Sunday, with all proceeds going to charity.
But animal rights group PETA has written to the pub asking it to call off the race.
PETA says the animals are stressed by crowds and face possible injury.
However, organisers of Brisbane's annual pig race day reckon the pudgy little porkers that almost fly are really quite lucky.
The races will go ahead on Sunday as scheduled, despite protests from international animal activists.
Pub spokesman Damian McGuire said pig racing was not cruel and the pigs were willing participants.
"All the pigs run to the starting gate by themselves," Mr McGuire said.
"They don't have to be rounded up, they all run out of the little play pen and around the track.
"These are quite lucky pigs, I feel, because they are not ending up on someone's dinner table."
Mr McGuire said the pigs' handler would be in attendance all day and there was little chance that any of them would get hurt.
"They don't run on bitumen or concrete, they run on straw," he said.
Mr McGuire also said the event had the support of the RSPCA.
And all proceeds from the races will be donated to the Australian Liver Foundation.
