Slidell police rolled up to a routine call at a local hotel on Tuesday and left with something a little more unusual than a report number: a rescued piglet. The tiny animal had been abandoned at the property, slipped underneath one of the department's patrol units, and briefly turned the parking lot into a low-speed stakeout before officers coaxed it out and took it into custody. According to the city, the piglet is now at the local animal shelter, where a veterinarian will examine it while officials decide what happens next.
Police Detail Their ‘Pork Patrol’ Bust
According to the Slidell Police Department, officers were dispatched to a hotel and discovered the piglet hiding under one of their patrol units. After guiding the animal out from its hiding spot, they secured it and turned it over to animal control. The department said in its post, titled along the lines of “we can't make this stuff up / pork patrol: the great pigscape,” that the piglet had been abandoned at the property and hinted that video of the impromptu capture may be shared. Police added that the animal is being cared for at the Slidell animal shelter while a veterinarian evaluates its condition.
Where The Piglet Is Now
Public listings for the Slidell Animal Shelter and the Animal Assistance League, which works with city animal control, put the facility at 2700 Terrace Ave and note that it handles strays, owner intakes, and adoption placements; see the listing on AdoptAPet. The shelter typically teams up with animal control officers and volunteers to arrange veterinary checks and potential rehoming for animals brought in by police. As of publication time, the shelter had not issued its own statement about Tuesday's surprise piglet arrival.
Legal Note
Under Louisiana law, abandoning or neglecting animals can qualify as cruelty, and state statutes outline penalties for neglect, abandonment, or aggravated cruelty based on the circumstances, according to a summary of anti-cruelty laws from the Animal Legal & Historical Center. If investigators ultimately conclude that the piglet was deliberately abandoned, that finding could be forwarded to prosecutors for review. Local animal assistance groups and authorities emphasize that reporting stray or distressed animals gives officials a chance to investigate any potential violations.
How Residents Can Help
Residents who encounter a stray or injured animal in Slidell are urged to contact Slidell Animal Control or the police non-emergency line so trained staff can respond. The department lists its non-emergency number on the Slidell Police Department site, and the shelter maintains a public contact number. Keeping animals away from traffic and calling authorities instead of attempting risky rescues is the safest way to help. The police department's public affairs team also shares regular updates on rescues and shelter intakes through its Facebook page.
