Saturday, January 16, 2021

Helpful neighbors find pet pig on the lam

frank the pigFile under “only in the Adirondacks”:

A pet Vietnamese potbelly pig owned by the Gallaher family in Jay decided to go off on an adventure recently, only to be quickly rounded up thanks to the help of concerned neighbors.

An item in the Jay Community News email news digest on Jan. 9 spoke to the quick actions of getting “Frank the Lady Pig” back home safely:

“THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO LOOKED OUT FOR FRANK THE LADY PIG!
We just wanted to send a HUGE thank you out to everyone, especially Bobby Meconi, who called, texted, and spread the word (so quickly!) and Gary Dreiblatt who posted here on JCN that Frank was wandering off the property today.

She was home quickly and safely, and other than a very tired set of short legs, is perfectly happy and healthy.

We’re so thankful for the community and everyone’s level of care and support for ALL of our family members! Frank sends her love!

~~Heather, Patrick, and Brody Gallaher, and all of the animals at Vagabond Farm.”

According to Heather Gallaher, Frank got her name from Gallaher’s son, Brody. “When we first got her we thought she was a boy, but quickly discovered otherwise – but 6 year old Brody said her name was a keeper. We have her a full proper name of Francine Josephine Gallaher, but she prefers Frank,” Gallaher said. Frank made a cross-country move with the family from California and is currently 5 years old.

According to Gallaher, Frank’s moment of freedom was short-lived, and was only away missing for about 20 minutes. She hustled during that time though, walking almost a half mile though. “Amazing for her short little legs,” Gallaher said.

Frank the lady pig, owned by the Gallaher family in Jay, escaped and was running at large, until a neighbor found her and posted a notice in Jay Community News email newsletter. Photo courtesy of Heather Gallaher.

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Melissa is a journalist with experience as a reporter and editor with the Burlington Free Press, Ithaca Journal and Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. She worked as a communications specialist for the Adirondack North Country Association and is currently digital editor for Adirondack Explorer, overseeing both the Explorer's website and its community forum the Adirondack Almanack. She enjoys hiking, camping and other outdoors activities, and spending time with her husband, their twin daughters, and rescue animals -- two dogs and two cats.




7 Responses

  1. Drew P Weiner says:

    Do people raise those things for meat?

  2. Vanessa says:

    This September when I turned off of Rt 9N onto Hurricane road, was greeted by a surplus of sheep! Ok only 2 or 3 but I wanted to try out the alliteration there 😀

    Anyway, they too were on the lam, pursued by their friendly human keepers. They nearly hit my car in their dash out onto the highway. Seemed intent on making a speedy getaway to Baxter Mt. I hope their families found them, for the wild woods is probably not a good place for farm animals.

  3. Charlie Stehlin says:

    It is very wise to make sure that if you own a wild animal, or domesticated wild animal, to put effort into securing it on your property so that the above never takes place. The horror stories are abundant due to this negligence of pet owners. Francine Josephine….German Irish!

    • Beth Rowland says:

      First, a potbelly pig is not a wild animal. And as farmer for over 25 years, I can tell you that keeping animals confined is a goal, not a given, no matter how good your fencing is. The standard line about goats, for example, is that if a fence won’t hold water, it won’t hold a goat. Anyone with experience with animals will tell you that all of them get loose, somehow, sometime—and it’s not due a lack of “effort into securing it on your property.” Livestock is, well, livestock. Your concept of “never” is, unfortunately, not based in reality. Even the best owners—and these folks are among the best of owners—experience accidents. The joy here is that this one turned out okay. Celebrate it, don’t lecture.

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