'Kiss the pig' contest contributes to negative and inaccurate view of pigs

Re: "Who will kiss the pig?," July 9 SanJuanJournal.com.

There are more creative ways to get involved in charitable works without demeaning animals and forcing them to participate in an activity that objectifies them and finds humor in our negative and inaccurate view of pigs.

Pigs are smart, social beings. They are thought to have intelligence beyond that of an average 3-year-old child and they communicate constantly with one another in their own language. Newborn piglets learn to run to their mothers' voices, and mother pigs sing to their young while nursing. They snuggle close to one another and prefer to sleep nose to nose. In their natural surroundings, pigs will spend hours playing, sunbathing and exploring.

Encouraging people to ridicule and show disrespect to both animals and community leaders is a wrong.

Yours truly,

Jennifer O'Connor
Animals in Entertainment Campaign Writer