Animal control got a call last week that there was a pig running loose in a downtown city park. The pig weighs easily between 250-300 pounds — by no means a little girl who could get put on the animal control truck.
One of the Animal Protection League’s employees who has a trailer had to go get the pig. The city is not equipped to handle animals of this size.
The pig is sweet and loves to be petted. No one has called or come looking for this sweet pig. With a pig of this size, I wonder where inside the city she lived. A house? An apartment? Someone’s backyard?
Just to be clear, livestock is not allowed inside the city limits; it is against city ordinance. But still, you would think it would be noticed that she was gone.
I’m sure someone got this girl when she was a tiny little piglet and was told it was a pot-bellied pig and wouldn’t get much bigger than a medium to large dog. Then, much to their surprise, they learned that she really is a pig — a full-sized pig. It’s hard to imagine that in your living room or running around your tiny yard.
Once again, the shelter is left to deal with the irresponsibility of whoever had this sweet pig. We are left to figure out housing and to find a safe, happy place for her to go. Thankfully, we do have someone coming on Wednesday to get her and take her to a sanctuary where she can live the life she deserves.
This is not the first pig we have gotten from inside city limits just running loose. And each time this is what we have to do concerning the pig. We get chickens, goats, sheep, etc. — all from inside the city limits when there are ordinances prohibiting it. And no one ever comes to claim them.
This is so unfair to these sweet, innocent animals. People continue to act in the moment and not consider the future for these animals who should never have been put in these situations.
Please, no one say to me to just butcher the pig for food. This pig was a pet. I am so very tired of people doing what is convenient, the easiest for them where animals are concerned.
This goes for dogs as well. Getting high energy dogs when you live in an apartment or have no fence and are sedentary yourself and then bringing the dog to the shelter stating he is too high-energy and is acting out because of it. Often, by the time we get these poor, frustrated dogs, a lot of work has to be done in order to adopt them, and then living in a loud, stressful kennel only makes things worse.
Please, when getting an animal, be mindful of what you can and should have. Consider what is best for the animal, if it is allowed per the ordinances where you live.
What people do and expect from animals is so very wrong and unfair.
Maleah Stringer is executive director of the Animal Protection League, 613 Dewey St., Anderson. She can be reached at 765-356-0900.
or at maleahstringer@aol.com.
