Marlborough police are investigating the death and roadside disposal of a domestic potbelly pig found alongside Route 124 over Labor Day weekend. The animal was later identified as Princess, a family pet, and WMUR-TV reported that she had a gunshot wound. Police have said there is no information suggesting she died where her body was found.
The pig's identity and the details of her injury were reported by WMUR-TV, which spoke with property owner Billy Kirker. Kirker told the station that Princess belonged to a former tenant he had evicted, and that the woman loaded the pig into a U-Haul truck shortly before the animal turned up dead along the highway. According to The Boston Globe, Marlborough police say there is no information suggesting the pig died where she was dumped.
Police allege the 39-year-old Troy woman dumped Princess's body beside the road over Labor Day weekend, per the Globe's reporting, and she was arrested on a warrant and charged with littering.
Neighbors Step In to Bring Princess Home
After a motorist discovered the pig's body along Route 124, local residents in the area stepped in to help return Princess to Kirker's property in Troy, the station's report noted, so she could be properly buried rather than left along the roadway. The gesture reflects how the small, close-knit community responded once word spread about the discovery.
How to report suspected animal abuse
According to the New Hampshire SPCA, anyone who witnesses animal torture or abuse should contact police immediately. The organization says suspected animal neglect or abuse can also be reported to its Field Services Department at 603-772-2921, extension 111, or through its online form.
Marlborough is described as rural, and the Globe's reporting places the incident firmly within that rural setting. Route 124 is mentioned in connection with the incident.
Investigation Widens Beyond a Dumping Charge
Marlborough police said the arrest has prompted a broader investigation into how the woman treats her children and other animals, The Boston Globe reported. Police had asked the public on September 7 for help identifying the pig's history as they worked to determine what happened before Princess was left along the roadway.
Whether the case escalates beyond the current misdemeanor charge will depend on what investigators find. The discovery of a gunshot wound was also reported.
State Rules on Animal Disposal
Separate from any cruelty question, the article raises the issue of how dead livestock and domestic animal carcasses are disposed of. Citizens Count is also cited in the article's discussion of animal protection laws.
The case has drawn attention in Marlborough, alongside the gunshot wound and questions about the woman's children and other animals.
A Broader Debate Over Animal Welfare Enforcement
The case lands amid ongoing debate in New Hampshire over how much authority officials should have to intervene in domestic animal cases. Governor Kelly Ayotte vetoed House Bill 1766 during the 2026 legislative session, citing concerns that restricting local law enforcement and animal welfare officers from stepping into domestic animal cases would increase abuse and neglect, according to the New Hampshire Federation of Humane Organizations.
The Marlborough case has drawn attention this year. Hoodline previously reported on a pet pig shot by a neighbor. Investigators have not said whether additional charges will follow.
