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Teresa is one of
167 pigs that were
the winners in a
dramatic showdown
between the animal
advocates and the
pork industry just
outside of Washington,
D.C.
The pigs were being
transported from
a factory farm in
North Carolina (the
country's largest
pork production
state) to a Pennsylvania
slaughterhouse.
On route, the driver
parked the triple-decker
trailer on a street
on Washington, D.C.,
and then abandoned
the trailer leaving
the animals in the
hot sun without
water or basic care.
Fortunately, local
residents notified
the police and the
Washington Humane
Society was contacted.
The trailer, was
seized by the agency,
and shortly after
midnight, was towed
to the Poplar Spring
Animal Sanctuary,
located in rural
Maryland, one hour
from D.C.
Throughout the
night, animal advocates
worked tirelessly
to remove the frightened
pigs from the trailer.
Most of the pigs
were too frightened
to move and many
of the pigs had
trouble walking
and were trembling
uncontrollably.
The unloading process
took several hours
and a ramp had to
be built to remove
the pigs from the
third level of the
truck. The animals
were terrified when
they got off the
trucks, and most
walked on their
knees and were dehydrated
and weak. They each
licked the dirt,
something they had
never seen, and
made their way into
their temporary
pasture.
The following day,
agents from Hanor
Company, a North
Carolina pork corporation,
and their legal
counsel arrived
at Poplar Spring
with local police
to retrieve the
animals. Upon arrival,
Hanor's representatives
were asked to provide
cash payment in
excess of $10,000
to cover the costs
associated with
caring for the animals.
In lieu of making
this payment, Hanor
agreed to sign the
pigs over to Poplar
Spring Animal Sanctuary.
Laura Nelson, an
attorney from the
Animal Legal Defense
Fund, represented
the sanctuary and
the pigs’
interests.
Authorities decided
not to bring criminal
charges against
the Hanor Company
for abandoning the
pigs. The largest
"penalty,"
however, was already
assessed when the
Hanor Company lost
the "market
value" of the
pigs, estimated
at approximately
$14,000.
The surviving pigs
are now living out
their natural lives
at sanctuaries.
Farm Sanctuary took
in 40 of these magnificent
animals. When the
pigs arrived, they
were approximately
six to eight months
old, and those who
remain have been
with us here at
Farm Sanctuary for
over seven years
now. Due to problems
with lameness, a
retirement pig area
was built for anyone
having trouble getting
around.
Although the pigs
were terrified when
they arrived, they
love human attention
now, and will lie
on their sides when
people approach
in hopes of getting
a belly rub.
Read
more animal stories»
Pictures courtesy of Farm Sanctuary and Derek Goodwin for Farm Sanctuary.
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