Animal Protection Group Bids To Save Pigs' Bacon

News - Local

Monday, 28 November 2011 11:27

Written by Pat Flynn

An animal protection group is seeking to contact the owner of two pigs which escaped from a farm and ran wild along a busy road in Co Clare last Monday.

The squealing omnivores managed to get free from the farm near Ashline on the Kilrush Road a short distance from Ennis and ran along the busy N68 before they were recaptured a short distance away.

The Animal Rights Action Network (ARAN), says they have been inundated with calls from concerned local's in Clare after news of the 'Runaway Pigs' appeared in the newspapers on Tuesday.

The group also believes the "little guys knew what was awaiting them" and had "tried desperately to escape the slaughterhouse by running for their lives". ARAN now wants to buy the two pigs from the farmer and retire them to a caring sanctuary before it's too late.

Mr John Carmody of ARAN travelled to Ennis during the week in a desperate attempt to locate the pig's owners. He spent several hours driving around the area where the pigs were seen and finally recaptured.

"We've said it before and we'll say it again, these pigs are no different to dogs and cats, all animals are very much capable of experiencing fear, pain, suffering and torment and it was clear that these two were very much aware of what was to come if they stayed any longer on the farm before going to the slaughterhouse. Pigs value their lives just as much as dogs and cats", Mr Carmody said.

"We're sending out a heartfelt plea to the farm where the pigs escaped from with an offer to buy the animals and retire them to a kind, caring sanctuary where the animals will meet nothing but compassion and kindness and a fulfilling life, not on top of someone's plate this Sunday," he added.

"We already have transport arranged to take these pigs to one of two sanctuaries if we can find them. Limerick animal welfare and Little Hill sanctuary in Kildare both have agreed to take these little guys and we are willing to give the farmer what he wants for them," Mr Carmody said.

After breaking free from the field, farm workers however were quick to react with one managing to overtake the pigs in his van and stop them in their tracks. He corralled them in a small park until colleagues arrived with a trailer to recover the animals.

While ARAN believes the pigs knew they were "destined for the slaughterhouse", a spokesman for the main abattoir in Ennis confirmed the pigs were not brought there.

"No, definitely not. We read about it in the papers but they weren't brought here. 100% not," the spokesman confirmed.