For the past year or so, Young-Williams Animal Center has been dealing with a pervasive problem of the porcine persuasion.
“I would say weekly we’re receiving potbellied pigs,” said Courtney Kliman, marketing director for the shelter.
Wednesday night, they received their latest guest – a black Vietnamese potbelly picked up by Knoxville Police roaming around town. She joins a light-colored potbelly already in residence, named Paul Hollywood.
The pig belongs to a family and apparently is quite the crafty character, according to animal control and Young-Williams. Animal control said this is the second time this particular pet pig has gone on the lam.
Young-Williams said the pig lives indoors and knows a few tricks -- including the command sit. The family of the pig came forward to claim their pet, but animal control wanted to make contact first before it is released to educate the family on properly containing the 200-pound indoor pig before it can be sent home.
Kliman said it’s a growing issue – in the past year, they’ve received about 30 pigs. They’re expensive to feed, tough to adopt out and costly to spay and neuter.
“We have a theory they’re coming from local stores,” Kliman said. “So what’s happening is stores are selling them and people don’t realize the city ordinances, for instance you can’t have livestock.”
She said many families get the pigs while they’re small and cute – not realizing they can grow to be more than 100 pounds.
The city of Knoxville does ban livestock in the city limits, but residents can apply for a permit for a Vietnamese Potbellied Pig, according to officials. It’s unclear where the recent wandering pig came from.
In the county, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office recommends checking your zoning and homeowners association rules.
Knoxville Police have picked up two pigs in recent memory, according to a spokesperson. But KCSO said it has seen a more significant increase.
“There’s no way to wrangle a pig,” said Sgt. Debbie Carter, KCSO animal control officer. “All you can do is hope you can get it into a corner.”
She said it’s one of the tougher creatures she encounters.
“As far as trying to just pick it up and carry it, they’re squirmy little creatures,” she said. “And they’re big and they’re fat and slippery and fast – it’s just a matter of luck if you’re going to get one. There’s really not a whole lot we can do when one gets loose.”
The pigs bite and become aggressive if starved, she added.
She recalled a recent incident involved three pigs, one larger than the rest:
“We nicknamed it Spidey-Pig, because that’s exactly what it became like Spider Man,” Carter said. “It climbed straight up the side of the wall and the only reason it stopped is because it hit the ceiling and fell back to the ground. And I’ve never seen a pig — it just had enough momentum, went straight up and stopped.”
KPD’s pig from Wednesday is much calmer now at Young-Williams, and will be checked by a veterinarian.
But Kliman hopes it can be a teaching moment for families considering a new potbellied pet.
“You need to make sure you have the right fenced in areas for them, that you’re going to provide enrichment for them … they’re creatures of habit just like dogs,” she said.
“The main message really just needs to be people need to do their homework and research before bringing any animal home,” she added.