The Lost Pig from Dalhousie Township disguised
Well land sakes alive– you don’t get too many stories that catch fire in Lanark County on a normal day unless— someone got lost in the bush or they defiantly parked their pickup and spent the night in the Mississippi River.
Yesterday our local OPP put out a Tweet and it went something like this:
Do you know this pig? Can you help “Miss Piggy” find her way home? She was found wandering in Dalhousie Twp, is very friendly & misses her family. 1-888-310-1122
I took one look at that face and knew I had to do something.
Well that swine of a posting caught fire faster than you can say Tim Horton’s Pulled Pork sandwich. Later the OPP had some misgivings about posting her pictures, less one too many farmers put a false claim in on our dear pig. But, the Tweet still remained and people seem to forget that all it takes is 5 seconds to take a screenshot and have that “porker” go viral. I mean, how could you not love that pig? It was Lanark County’s very own BABE.
Pigs are great escape artists. You wouldn’t believe what they can get out of and into. They have been known to chew right through chain link fences, crawl under fences through spaces you wouldn’t think they could fit, and lift wooden poles right off their supports. Yes, they can climb if they want too and some of the smaller pigs can even jump! But this is Lanark County (Dalhousie township) ladies and gentleman– we have pigs jumpin’ all over the place here.
Photo from OPP Twitter Feed
Someone on Facebook wondered if the pig got a ride in the OPP Cruiser. Well, ya gotta figure that poor pig was already in distress, and I hoped to heck the officer lured it with treats and a high voice. Pigs really like high voices, and they also respond well to calm and slow. Best way to catch ’em is to grab ’em, tip ’em, tie their feet with a rope, and put ’em in a wheelbarrow. Then you can cart the pig to where ever you are taking it. Last I looked I didn’t notice if we had an OPP fleet of wheelbarrows.
Anyone?
You can probably understand that the last thing the poor OPP officer wanted was for her to run off. They’re quick, slick and smart–and recovering them is usually a major undertaking. This is especially true in a rural area like Lanark County, where a hog can simply disappear into the woods. I have watched way too many American Horror Story episodes to know you don’t want anyone disappearing in the woods-man, woman or beast!
So let’s hope the OPP can find our BABE her family and she can go home soon. Right now she is safe on someone’s farm until her owner can be found. Best comment on over 300 shares I got after it went up? One woman said,
“I bet the pig was looking for that lost kangaroo in Watson’s Corners”.
Well all I have to say is— if this was 1869 —you would have been fined $2 for allowing a pig to run at large. Now? Well, there’s too much bacon– said no one ever. However, all of us can give a big sigh of relief that the pig voluntarily surrendered into OPP custody-and anyone who has recently lost a pig is asked to contact Lanark County OPP using the toll-free number 1-888 310-1122.
Update? The pig is being taken care of now until her rightful owner comes forward. In the meantime from all the comments I have been getting.. We would all love to have her..:)
Perth Courier, July 9, 1869
Francis Turner and William Montgomery of Perth were fined $2 each. after they allowed their pigs to run at large
Related stories….
Did They Ever Find the Kangaroo from Lanark County?
How to Catch a Pigeon in Ashton
Auctionering Without a License and Pigs on the Loose
“I Like My Chicken Fryin’ Size” said the Pig
Lobster John and Arnold the Pig in Carleton Place
Harold McKay
This iron pot has a long history.
When we had to slaughter a pig, we often took it to my Uncle Stewart Paterson’s farm, since he had a large cast iron pot that was balanced on a rock outcropping in his barnyard. The big caldren (about 4 ½ or 5 feet across) would be filled with water, and then a wood fire was lit under it. When the water was boiling, it was time for the pig’s entrance. The slaughtered pig (I will not expand on the details as to how this was done at this time), was lowered into the pot and essentially scalded. It would then be pulled after a short while, and the pig bristles (hair) would be scrapped off the carcass with long butcher knives.
Growing up on a farm was always interesting and there was something new to be learned or experienced every day.
lindaseccaspina 