Final bid for freedom: Three pigs escape from animal trailer in Dolton near Winkleigh
Three giant pigs made their final bid for freedom this morning as they managed to break free from an animal trailer which was carrying them to a slaughterhouse.
The three fully-grown ginger Tamworth pigs, nicknamed the Tamworth Trio, were travelling in a trailer on the A3124 from Winkleigh to Beaford when they broke out of the vehicle and jumped onto the road.
Police said the animals had managed to force the door of the animal transporter open and the driver of the trailer, who hadn’t realised they had escaped, carried on driving.
The three pigs were left roaming the road until two were spotted by a member of the public who contacted the police at around 9.40am.
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Initial reports to the police suggested there were only two pigs on the loose.
Officers from Torrington Station arrived and found one pig in a roadside ditch and one running in and out of the road.
They made enquiries and contacted the driver of the trailer, as well as the owner of the pigs who was travelling alongside the driver in the cab.
When the owner, who is from the Winkleigh area, returned to the scene it was noted that one other pig was still on the loose. It was located in a nearby field.
PC Kerry Wilson described it as “a bit of an unusual incident”.
She said: “You certainly don’t get that every day. We stopped the traffic briefly and had to cut a hole in the fence to make way for them. Together we managed to herd them into a field, although one of them was being quite difficult. We got there in the end.”
All three pigs were unharmed and were accounted for by 11.15am. They are currently in a field in Dolton but are expected to be rounded-up later this evening and taken to the slaughter.
Did you see the Tamworth Trio? Email your photos to emma.glanfield@northcliffedigital.co.uk or send them to us on Twitter: @ThisisNDevon.
Comments
by jimlan
Wednesday, December 05 2012, 11:24PM
“Fair enough. At least they've earned themselves a few more weeks though!”
by carajane
Wednesday, December 05 2012, 7:53PM
“Well, the pigs aren't going to slaughter untill after Christmas now. They have to go as they are inbred and the alternative is them dying a painful death from a heart defect or something else.”
by accom
Wednesday, December 05 2012, 7:18AM
“It's quite a sad story at the end. The article concludes as if it's a happy ending, but it's not.”
by jimlan
Wednesday, December 05 2012, 12:45AM
“All three pigs were unharmed.. to be safely taken to the slaughter.. and seriously harmed.
Hmm, pity their escape bid failed.”