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“Wilbur” the pig gets a new home

Jan 11, 2019 | 12:24 PM

LETHBRIDGE – A four legged, pudgy, friendly little animal is being re-homed today, after he was found a few days ago by Lethbridge Animal Services.

Little “Wilbur” the pig, as he was named, was found near Mayor Magrath Drive and Highway 4 Sunday afternoon (Jan. 6) near the Holiday Inn. He was seen by several people actually running alongside the highway, coming from an eastern direction.

Animal Control Officer Skylar Plourde says they have never received a call for a little pig before.

“Most of the time we’re just dealing with dogs and sometime cats. We have had, over the last couple of years, some calls about chickens sort of running around different parts of the city…but in my four years here I definitely haven’t picked up a pig. So that’s a first.”

Plourde doubts that the animal was meant to be taken for processing anywhere, because of its size and its manner.

“It’s domesticated and it’s quite friendly with people, so it could be a household pet or maybe something from a hobby farm. It seems quite – it is very domesticated – it’s quite comfortable with people, it’s fairly affectionate.”

No one came forward to claim the animal this week, and it didn’t have any identifying tags.

“After 72 hours, it’s transferred to a farm, to an appropriate home right away,” explained Plourde.

Pigs – even domesticated ones – aren’t permitted as pets in the City of Lethbridge, because they’re considered livestock. He adds that Animal Services is not set up to care for pigs for a long period of time either.  

“The staff find him quite cute, but the city isn’t really a place for a farm animal.”

“Wilbur” has been sent to a farm outside of Lethbridge where, like the famous children’s book, he may have the opportunity to meet a spider named “Charlotte” or a rat (mouse) named “Templeton” and perhaps make friends with a little girl named Fern.