MADRID Animal rights activists filed a complaint against the government of a Spanish town for animal abuse during its annual ritual of hurling a goat from a church tower, Reuters reported. The National Association for the Protection and Wellbeing of Animals filed a formal complaint with the regional government of Zamora after the weekend ritual in the northern town of Manganeses de la Polvorosa. Throwing a goat from the church belfry, as part of a festival in Manganeses de la Polvorosa, Zamora, on the 23 of January was a premeditated violation of the law that protects animals, the association said in a statement.

Villagers followed a time-honoured tradition on Saturday and hurled pepa the goat from a church tower during a local fiesta.