While I know that is a picture of a dog it brings back memories of my ol' pet pig Ernie. Back in ’99 I had a three legged pet pig named Ernie. Lost him Thanksgiving Day of that year. I remember a couple of weeks after I got him from a farm out on the east end of Long Island my neighbor Brian asked "why has that pig only got three legs?" Of course I loved Ernie. Even with the three legs he frolicked around with me and in a couple of months we had bonded real good. Ernie was very protective of my two daughters and it was fun watching him "pal" around with them. I told Brian "that there is a very special pig. you remember last year when I was down at Gilgo beach with the family and I damn near drowned, Ernie saved my life when he jumped in the water, took on the mighty 5’ swells and pulled me out. That's one great pig." Now Brian, who owned a giant beast of a German Shepherd was not about to give up, "Yes, yes, that Ernie may be a special pig, but why does he have only three legs?" "Well, I said, "That Ernie is a very special pig. Why get the kids a dog when I have Ernie. Don’t you recall when we had the bathroom fan fire last year and my wife and 2 daughters were inside, Ernie was squealing all over the house. He probably saved their lives…I love that Ernie, what a great pig." Of course my neighbor Brian still would not leave well enough alone and continued to press me, "that’s all well and good but why does he only have three legs?" "Well," I said, "a pig like Ernie you just can't eat all at once."
