A Pet Pig Got Loose in Arcata. Hours Later, Someone Slaughtered Her

Lost Coast Outpost ^ | Saturday, March 30 | Andrew Goff

[RedMonqey]

A local family is devastated after their pet pig Princess got loose and was killed for meat by an opportunistic community member. Now that person could be facing charges.

“She’s very sweet,” Princess’s owner Carrie Hogan told the Outpost, still referring to the animal in the present tense. “She’s not aggressive. She likes to be around people.”

Last Saturday morning, Princess, a near-400 pound Hampshire cross pig, escaped from her pen at a residence on Park Street on Fickle Hill in Arcata and took a high-profile jaunt around the neighborhood, occasionally stopping to graze in open front yards. The swine’s unauthorized outing drew the attention of concerned neighbors, and by 9 a.m. her exploits were featured on Humboldt Paws Cause’s Facebook page.

[Candor7]

Take your pork where you find it.

Someone invited Princess in for Dinner.

Was it theft or cattle rustling?>

Maybe, depends on where the pig was apprehended and what it was doing.

[Lurker51]

“That dog deserves a medal, or maybe a roasted pork chop.”

LOL, She was an incredibly smart dog. The dog and the pig were the only ones in the house I got along with, so as much as I dislike my mother-in-law I wouldn’t have wanted him to become pork chops on my watch. That said, I’m pretty sure he did become pork chops when my dad moved to England for a temporary job assignment (he picked up the socialism disease while he was there, unfortunately). They put him with a caretaker, and after a couple months suspiciously never heard from the caretaker again.

[Carriage Hill]

My ‘candied bacon” is killer. And I use it on BLTs, too.

[RedMonqey]

I do.
He didn’t keep his word.
He apparently did not ask anyone like the police if it was okay.

If you cared to read my post I made those points.

I just don't have a problem butchering animals to eat.

And slaughtering farm animals for food is why they were breed. Not to placate little suburbanite princess with their fleeting desires of the moment. If they really cared for the animal, they would have had it properly fencing and tagged. They didn't so so much for their love for the hog.

If you don't like the way your food gets to your table, then don't put it on your table.

[Notthereyet]

“I’ll also add that if you say you’re going to do something with the understanding that you will do it, you should do it. A man is only as good as his word.”
_______________________________________

The original article said it only took an hour for the owner to be found (owner was frantically looking!). By the end of that said hour the owner and deputy showed up and the pig was ALREADY being slaughtered.

No Way In Hell Was That Butcher Going To Watch That Pig.

Still, cannot comprehend the ignorance of some FReepers.

Remember, FReepers, there are now peoples in this country who would gladly eat your pet, be it dog, cat, goat, horse, fish in tank/pond. Hades. There are folks in this country who would use the bone/muscle/ashes of ALBINO HUMANS in different acts of sacrifice/’medicine’ if they could get away with it because to ‘them,’ ALBINO HUMANS are simply NOT humans.

It’s a very freaking slippery slope....

And don’t bother saying it’ll never happen here.

POST BIRTH ABORTION (infanticide) could never happen here, either, could it????

[RedMonqey]

How is anything I’ve posted is a defense of this guy? I clearly stated he was probably in trouble for his actions according to local law. Is stating the facts as reported a defense of the guy? If the hog destroyed somebody’s property or run into the street and caused a human fatality, think the owner of this porcine danger would own up to it and stand for persecution?

As a farmer in my home state I must make all possible measures to properly fence in my animals so that they don’t wander into traffic and kill somebody. You did too if you raised farm animals. Tagged them or cut their ear in a manner to identify your critters. This guy would be in as much trouble as the guy who butchered the sow. And don’t all pets required to have identification and shots so the proper owner is found and returned. So much for the loving owner. Lots of blame to go around.

[RedMonqey]

We all know what the neighbors’ pigs look like, what their names are-and if you see one loose, you pen it behind your fence and call the neighbor to come get their pig

Correct. Everybody knows their own cattle and have them properly tagged or cut. So when one feeds, vaccinates, (tags) or otherwise inspects their own herd and a head extra comes up, you know it's not yours and send out the word to others you got a stray. You don't take around your shed and kill it, put in your freezer or smokehouse.

You know the rightful owner will come looking for it cuz if it was your stray, you would eventually discover you're one short, too and hope a neighbor would return the favor.

The guy(Not very neighborly) clearly saw an opportunity to enrich himself and if the laws says he must make restitution, he should.

I posted this story because I've witnessed too many "beloved" pets let loose because the idiot owners got tired of spending money on it or it destroyed their furniture so they drive out to the country, wait for the traffic to slow so they can "discreetly" toss the animal out the door so it can "run free" and live an idyllic life it was meant to be.

Hogwash(no pun intended)

The lucky ones might find a home but too many get killed or starve to death before they find a farmer willing to take in another stray. For the first forty years we never got a cat or a dog from a pet store. All but the first pet we had were drop offs. These were the few lucky ones. As I put in the category above, "Stupid People Tricks"

I'm sure you have your stories too , Texan5

[RedMonqey]

No Way In Hell Was That Butcher Going To Watch That Pig.

The guy clearly saw an opportunity to enrich himself and if the laws says he must make restitution, he should.

If I was on the jury that heard his case I know what my verdict would be. But it wouldn't be because he butchered it, it would be for theft.

[RedMonqey]

Was it theft or cattle rustling?

Dunno, I'd have to look at the particular laws of the state and how much the sow was worth. He didn't go into their yard and steal it. But he did make statements to the cop with the understanding he would take care of it til the owner showed up.

Theft by deception? Cruelty to animals? Obstruction of justice(Ok, the last one i just threw in)

Cattle Rustling is still on the books in my state but it is never charged cuz the penalty is hanging. More likely grand theft if more than one cow is stolen.

[RedMonqey]

(Snicker, snicker)

[Adder]

Oh yeah...on a cathead biscuit...

[Notthereyet]

Theft would be one charge.

Was he a qualified butcher and did he do the butchering in a government approved facility? I would be looking into those charges.

There’s also the fact that he advised the deputy he would ‘watch’ the pig until the owner/s were located. That would imply he was working with the police in that area and then reneged. I would look into an Obstruction Charge on that point.

Yes, I’d be looking into every single solitary charge I could find.

He wanted to kill that pig after advising he would ‘watch’ it: Let him pay for the privilege of his actions.

[RedMonqey]

"Was he a qualified butcher and did he do the butchering in a government approved facility?”

If he was intent on selling the meat, then yeah his meat needed to be inspected. If for his private use, no.

Theft by deception

Cruelty to animals

Disposal of hazardous material...

[lastchance]

So a thief and a liar. Time for him to throw his hat in the ring.

[Notthereyet]

Thank you, RedMonqey, for your clear insight!

:)

[RedMonqey]

"Oh yeah...on a cathead biscuit..”

Mmmmmm... Cathead biscuits! Made by you granny that way because she believed in healthy appetite! I liked mine with plenty of applebutter! Mmmmmmmmmmm!

[mumblypeg]

And pray tell, why shouldn’t suburbanites own farm animals?

The town where I live allows 1 livestock animal per 2 acres within city limits, according to city ordinance.
We have cows, chickens, & can ride our horses a few city blocks over to the town square.