Pig taken into custody - advice on pot-bellied pigs

CHIPLEY – A local pig was taken into custody Monday morning after the animal led Chipley police on a merry chase through downtown.

Officer Richard Heming said reports came in early of a pig on the loose around Third Street and Jackson Avenue. The pig, black-gray in color and apparently a large pot-bellied pig, was spotted by Heming, “but he absconded from me,” the officer said.

Fresh reports came in just after noon that the animal was spotted around Jackson Avenue and Fifth Street. The pig was again spotted running down South Railroad Avenue toward Second Street, and then across Jackson down Second. “The pig was cornered by us but absconded again and ran into the woods,” Heming said.

A private citizen brought his hunting dog to help track the fugitive porker to the back porch behind Mayor Linda Cain’s house. “He got aggressive and I tased him,” Heming said. The pig was taken by Animal Control without further incident and with no injuries.

The pig has not been identified nor has he made any comment to investigators.

Pot-bellies can be good pets in right circumstances

Pot-bellied pigs can make a good pet, according to Jennifer Sackett of CJ Acres Animal Rescue Farm, a public animal charity located in Keystone Heights.

Actually, pot-bellies do make very good pets for some people but they are not for everybody which is why so many are abandoned.  Their personalities are more similar in manner to cats than dogs (cats being more aloof and less affectionate than dogs who enthusiastically greet you like it is Christmas every day!), but every pig is different.  All of the ones I've been around are sensitive, gentle, and will make you laugh with their antics.  

While I know of people who have pot-bellies in their homes, I can't imagine doing this for a number of reasons.  Pot-bellies are smart and can be housebroken. 

They live a while (10-20 years), average about 150 lbs depending on the sex (don't believe the articles about mini-pigs - these are untrue), and have relatively few health problems if you provide good food (they do not eat much), clean water, and get them vaccinated regularly.  Of course, they require hoof and tusk trimming and regular vaccines. 

They are mostly neat - keeping their beds clean and eliminating away from where they eat and sleep.  They only shed once a year when all of their bristles fall out and new ones come in. 

That said, however, I cannot imagine having them in the house as they seem much more suited for outdoors than in, and are more like a "farm animal" than a domesticated pet. 

In addition, all of the pot-bellies I've been around seem happiest outside rooting in the dirt, chewing on grass, lying in the sun, eating acorns, playing in mudholes, etc.  

As for temperament, I think pigs in general (pot-bellies included) as big IDs.  They want what they want when they want it and don't say no or stand in their way.  Mine sing and make all sorts of noises to show me how irritated they are with me when I don't feed them fast enough, or try and medically treat them, or accidentally brush up to one of them. 

And as you know from first hand experience, God help you if your potbelly gets loose and you have to catch him - talk about DIFFICULT!  

My pot-bellies were rescues so they are naturally less affectionate than one raised by hand as a baby.  If you hand raised them, from what I've seen, they would be more affectionate and loving.  

All in all, I find them a really neat pet, but again, not for everybody.  If you are interested in reading more about pot-bellies, here's a great link pigs4ever.com.