Pigsburgh Squealers Rescue in Tarentum has been in overdrive this week, scrambling to house roughly 80 pigs pulled from a condemned property in Rostraver Township. Volunteers rushed to throw together new pens and open up every usable corner of the rescue so the animals could get vet checks, clean water, and a chance to root around outside instead of sitting in confinement.
When officers served a warrant at the Route 51 property, police say they found dozens of pigs living among piles of trash and signs of a rodent infestation. As reported by CBS Pittsburgh, rescue founder Blue Martin said the group initially expected to take in around 30 pigs on one night. Volunteers scrambled to set up fencing and temporary enclosures, the pigs were split between two temporary foster homes, and, as Martin put it, “it turned out to be 80.”
Rostraver Township condemned the home and described the interior as hazardous, with flies, trash, and rats that neighbors say spilled into nearby yards. According to the Mon Valley Independent, officers made several trips with trailers to corral the animals and filed a misdemeanor public nuisance complaint against owner Wendi Kraemer. Court paperwork lists a preliminary hearing for July 13.
Medical Needs And Fundraising Push
Many of the pigs are overweight and will need carefully monitored diets and veterinary care before they are healthy enough for adoption. Some are pregnant or nursing, and several will require spaying or neutering procedures.
Pigsburgh Squealers’ website shows the group has already spent thousands of dollars on fencing and feed, and is now fundraising for additional shelters and an initial round of neuters. The rescue reports dozens of new fosters stepping up and details urgent supply needs on its donation page at Pigsburgh Squealers.
Volunteers And Adoption Screening
Volunteers, temporary fosters, and nearby residents pitched in to move pigs, put up pens, and expand the rescue’s capacity almost overnight. The organization says it will screen adopters closely to make sure the pigs land in homes that understand what it takes to care for them long term.
Nonprofit filings and local reporting reviewed by WESA offer additional background on the rescue’s work and the scale of its rehabilitation efforts.
Legal Outlook
Under Rostraver Township’s nuisance ordinance, officials can order a property cleaned up, impose fines, and pursue criminal penalties when conditions are considered a threat to neighbors’ health and safety. The ordinance outlines civil abatement procedures and other enforcement tools, which are available in township records on ecode360. Local reporting has also detailed the criminal complaint and upcoming court schedule tied to the seizure.
For now, Pigsburgh Squealers is focused on stabilizing its sudden herd of new arrivals. Those who want to help can find updates and donation options on the rescue’s website, which lists Venmo, CashApp, PayPal, check, and other ways to give. The coming weeks will determine how the legal case unfolds and how many of the pigs ultimately move from emergency pens into permanent homes.
