Chula Vista residents woke up to an unusual sight early Monday morning when a family of eleven pigs was found ambling through a neighborhood near Woods Drive. According to the County News Center, a passerby reported the porcine troupe to the local animal services, which prompted a response just before 5 a.m.
In a display of inter-agency collaboration, County Animal Services officers set out with the needful gear and sustenance to capture the stray swine, a task that unfolded near a bustling thoroughfare, raising concerns for their safety. Lt. Talia Padilla of County Animal Services found the swine huddled in a gated driveway and led the team in a rescue operation. "Mama hog, her babies and a random pot-bellied pig were all in a gated driveway area that led up to two properties," Padilla said in a statement obtained by County News Center.
Efforts to determine the ownership of the wandering swine proved fruitless, as nearby residents claimed they did not own the animals. This led to the theory that the pigs weren't mere Houdinis of a backyard pen. With most of the pigs proving agreeable to lures, most were rounded up into a trailer with relative ease. However, one piglet and the pot-bellied companion gave the team a run for their money.
"They were very food-motivated," Lt. Padilla recounted via the County News Center. The maternal hog, it seems, showed a penchant for ear scratches and displayed signs of affection. This maternal connection, and perhaps the promise of more ear-scratching, may have been an ace up the sleeve for the officers in regaining control of the porky bunch.
The piglets and their guardian are currently in the care of the San Diego County Animal Shelter in Bonita, awaiting either a rightful claim or a new home. Chula Vista Animal Services is primarily responsible for lost pets, keeping the animals for four business days for their owner to step forward. After this period, without a claim, they will decide on the next steps for the pigs' welfare. Concerned citizens or prospective pig parents can contact (619) 691-5123 for more information or to report about the pigs.
