So that "tradition" no longer goes with decapitation: in Saint-Bonnet-près-Riom, let's demand an end to the "goose neck" game
From Beaux to Lesmont via Arfeuilles, every year young people celebrate their coming of age by tearing off the heads of geese and rabbits suspended by their legs. While some municipalities have abandoned this shameful practice thanks to public pressure, others remain stubborn. This is the case in Saint-Bonnet-près-Riom, in the Puy-de-Dôme region, where these sad festivities are scheduled to take place on September 21. We are once again calling for a total ban on this macabre spectacle wherever it is still practiced.
No tradition can ever justify the mutilation of animal carcasses
Dead geese and rabbits are hung by their hind legs from ropes above the road. Young people perched on horses ride underneath, grab their necks, and pull with all their strength until the flesh gives way and the heads are torn off. All this to the cheers of a laughing audience for whom animals are nothing more than objects of amusement. This is the game of goose neck as practiced for instance in Saint-Bonnet-près-Riom, where we investigated in 2023 before filing a complaint.
After banning it under pressure in 2024, the city council decided to reverse its decision this year, praising a “new organization”… whose main objective is to lock down the event: private security, a secret location, hand-picked guests… But for the animals, nothing changes. They will continue to be killed in questionable conditions especially for the occasion, while the organizers still refuse to provide any details about their origin.
Enough talk, it’s time for action! Let’s demand a ban on this “spectacle”
Faced with these outdated customs, there is only one solution: massive citizen mobilization. From Beaux in the Haute-Loire region to Arfeuilles in the Allier region, we are multiplying our calls to denounce this barbarism that has been elevated to the status of tradition. In 2024, in Lesmont in the Aube region, the municipality banned decapitations. A few weeks ago, the prefect of the Allier region clearly reminded the mayor of Arfeuilles that this practice is also illegal.
Today, we are writing to the mayor to ask him once again to ban this event. We are also writing to the prefect of the Puy-de-Dôme region, who is required to intervene if the mayor refuses to do so. Every signature counts in supporting this fight: sign our petition now!
The Puy-de-Dôme prefecture asks the mayor to ban the goose neck game
Alerted by our letter, the Puy-de-Dôme prefecture today reminded the mayor of Saint-Bonnet-près-Riom that it is forbidden to slaughter animals for a “public event or invitation during which carcasses would be displayed for ‘entertainment'”. It also reminded him that killing animals for this purpose is a criminal offense punishable by six months’ imprisonment and a fine of €7,500.
A few weeks ago, the Allier prefect sent a similar letter to the mayor of Arfeuilles, who was forced to cancel this cruel “show”.
One Voice reiterates its appeal: Mr. Mayor, ban the goose neck game in Saint-Bonnet-près-Riom!
Goose neck: One Voice will not hesitate to file a complaint against those responsible for holding this illegal “show”.
With September 21 fast approaching, along with the planned mutilation of goose and rabbit carcasses as part of the “goose neck” game, we are writing once again to the mayor and the events committee to demand the cancellation of this illegal event, as reminded by the Puy-de-Dôme prefect in a recent letter.
One Voice will not hesitate to file a complaint against anyone responsible for killing animals for the purpose of organizing this “game” and against anyone who has been complicit in this offense, which is punishable by six months’ imprisonment and a fine of €7,500.