Runaway Pig in Downtown Austin
This afternoon I took a long walk. As I was winding down and getting close to home again, I saw one of the strangest things I've seen in a while. A couple of people across the street from where I was walking near 9th Street and Congress were gathered around a black, potbellied pig. At first, I assumed that she was their pet; however, as I continued watching, it became apparent that they were trying with difficulty to keep the pig from walking off without the benefit of a leash. A woman kept trying to walk in front of the pig to block her path, but it seemed like the sow's only response was to snort and grunt out of annoyance and turn the other way. I noticed that no one was really even touching her. Of course, my intervention became inevitable. I walked across the street and asked the couple if this was their pig. My question was really more of a formality at this point, as she obviously was not with these people and wanted nothing to do with them. The woman told me she had called the police department and was trying to contain the pig to the area between Congress and Colorado until they got there. I didn't ask if they needed my help but got involved immediately. I got down and started to pet the annoyed pig, but that didn't stop her from walking away from me. In the background, I could hear someone making crude jokes about how she was making him hungry or how she might make a good meal, no doubt out of some sense of guilt since he also seemed to be concerned with her welfare….(or maybe I am giving him too much credit). She continued to move back and forth away from us the more we pursued her. An older couple walked by, with the man muttering, "Only in Austin…."
After several minutes of moving back and worth with the sow and my continued efforts to comfort her by petting her and talking with her, a police car pulled up. The cop said that he wished he hadn't finished his lunch because he had some fruits and veggies that the pig might have liked. He told us that Animal Control would come get her, take her to Town Lake Animal Center, where she'd get a checkup and then be placed somewhere. With the cop, we continued to follow the pig back and forth, up and down 9th Street. The lady asked if he had any rope, and he said that he didn't. Eventually he remembered that he had some from a water rescue kit. He made a makeshift pig leash, and then continued walking with the pig.
As he was walking with the pig, he said in his distinct British accent, "Some people who don't like police might say, 'Look! A pig walking a pig!'" All of us laughed, and I responded jokingly that the thought had never occurred to me….to which he retorted, "You all were thinking that! Heh!" The lady took some pictures or video with her iPhone, and the cop asked if he was going to be seeing it later on YouTube. During this time, people kept passing by and staring or stopping and asking questions. We were trying to figure out the fate of the pig post-TLAC, and I was already thinking about getting in touch with SARA Sanctuary. While we were discussing that, some guy drove by and stopped and said in broken English that he knew whose pig it was. Apparently the pig lived in the neighborhood less than a block away!
I was worried that this could be a bad situation that the pig had escaped and wondered if it was possible that the pig was better off going to TLAC and then SARA. As we walked over to where the guy parked his car, it became immediately evident where the pig lived. There was an apartment behind some Congress retail establishment with a little fenced-in area. The place was covered with all kinds of pig memorabilia, everything from a sign that said "Pig Lover" to pig statues and every pig thing you could possibly imagine. Parked near this place was a pink car that was covered in with pig toys both inside and out, with stickers like one that said "Men are not pigs," which no doubt was a slam against men. It also had the unfortunate play on words of "Bakin' in the Sun." The guy who had directed us there worked in the restaurant next door. He told us that the lady from the pig apartment didn't appear to be home. He went and got somebody from the restaurant who came and spoke to us.
The woman from the restaurant immediately knew the pig. She called the pig by name (Annika, Annabelle, or something like that). She said that the pig lady took good care of the pig. We weren't sure because it seemed that she was living in a little area outside, and we didn't see any food or water. The restaurant lady was quick to tell us that the pig actually lived indoors and had her own bed and was actually treated "better than people." Apparently she'd been in the fenced area and the gate had not been secured properly, so she'd gotten out. Since we didn't know where the pig lady was, the police officer was releasing her to the restaurant lady. I left thanking the cop and the other people, hoping the pig would be okay. I wish that I'd gotten a picture of the pig, but I didn't have my camera or cell phone with me. I should have given my e-mail address to the lady with the iPhone, and then I would have at least had the picture of the pig being walked by the cop. The lady said she was thinking of posting the pics somewhere, but I'm not sure where.
My curiosity is peaked, though. Who is this pig lady? Is she an eccentric old woman? (That was the impression that I got from the restaurant guy who made the circular crazy motion with his finger.) Is she vegetarian? Is she possibly vegan? How did she end up with that sweet piggy? So far, an internet search turned up nothing. I hope that she really does take good care of the pig, and that the escape was just a one-time stroke of bad luck. Maybe I'll go by there sometime to make sure the pig is okay and will also see who this pig lady is.