Upward of 300 potbellied pigs on a property in Falmouth, Ky. need help finding new homes before a Sept. 14 deadline.
According to a Facebook post on Butler County’s Atti’s Acres, a rescue nonprofit for potbellied pigs that has partnered with other rescue organizations to help the pigs and their owner, the owner of the property has a deadline of Sept. 14 to place as many pigs as possible; after that date, the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife will have to remove the pigs. Many will face euthanization if they don’t find a new home.
Images of the farm on popular animal site The Dodo depict pigs running amok, including pregnant ones and piglets, too. Loris Tristan, the owner of the Pendleton County farm, told Local12 that it started with 15 pigs three years ago, but, because of factors like unintended breeding, that number quickly grew out of control. Animal control stopped in on a welfare check after a complaint was filed claiming that more than 119 pigs were not properly contained and wandering into neighboring property.
Tristan, who says she started with good intentions of rescuing pigs in need, also told Local12 that she takes full responsibility and just hopes the pigs are able to find homes. According to attorney Jeff Dean, the owner has a Sept. 18 arraignment.
Other animal groups, including the aforementioned Atti’s Acres and Red Oak Animal Rescue (ROAR), are concerned for the animals’ well-being. Both groups are currently working to ensure the pigs have proper food and water as well as attempts to secure safe housing.
Since many of the pigs are pregnant, the number of pigs needing homes continues to rise as the days go on. ROAR posted on Facebook that a headcount yielded 458 pigs. Initially, when the story first was released, estimates came to about 200.
“This is far more enormous than we anticipated. It’s going to take nothing short of a miracle to save these souls,” the nonprofit wrote. “Please help in any way you can.”
Both Atti’s and ROAR shared a link to an adoption/foster application for the pigs.
The Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife, Atti’s Acres and ROAR continue to make arrangements for the pigs at the farm and are still looking for people interested in adopting some of the pigs or fostering.
Here is a post from Atti’s Acres regarding the Sept. 14 deadline and adoption info:
ATTENTION: We have been given a brief reprieve, from KY Dept of Fish and Wildlife. They have agreed to not seize any pigs, at this time! They have asked that we ask our supporters to STOP calling their office and that until further notice, we are UNABLE to remove any pigs from the property. Atti’s Acres is continuing to monitor the situation daily, to ensure every pig is safely contained and has adequate food, water and suitable shelter. Atti’s Acres has been given permission to secure safe housing for the pigs, when they are able to be removed. We are working with a governmental agency and are required to abide by their rules, in order to save these animals. That includes following the KY Dept of Agriculture laws regarding pigs traveling outside of KY. KY requires that all livestock leaving the state, travel with a completed certificate of health and be microchipped, prior to leaving the state. This is also the law, within most states, for livestock being brought into their state. We will be looking into the cost of this process, through a local veterinarian.ALL RESCUES, SANCTUARIES, FOSTERS AND PRIVATE ADOPTERS MUST COMPLETE AN APPLICATION! We are ultimately being given responsibility for the final placement of these animals, but are required by the agency, to maintain and provide records of each animal removed. We are assembling a team of volunteers, to process all applications received! This is the FIRST step to removing these pigs! Please send us your email address,so that we can send out applications. Thank you for continuing to share, volunteer, donate towards this massive rescue effort. We are overwhelmingly grateful, for the support!!
This article appears in Aug 22-29, 2018.
