Another Reason For Me To Become A Vegetarian...

[elizabethann]

Poor pig....

Slaughterhouse-bound pig tries to escape
November 15, 2005

ELLSWORTH, Maine --A 280-pound pig delayed, but couldn't derail, its trip to a Bangor slaughterhouse when it bolted from a wooden trailer after its owners had stopped at a red light.

The pig made its break for freedom shortly before noon Monday and scampered down the road. Police were soon in pursuit, following the brown-spotted pink sow through several yards before it plopped down on the ground about a half hour after its leap from the trailer.

"She was tired so she laid down," said Officer Daniel Owens. "That's probably the most exercise she has had in her life."

Using a rope and a flexible plastic backboard, police and firefighters tried to drag the pig back to the trailer. The pig protested by curling its lips and letting out piercing squeals that made bystanders wince.

"You just feel badly for the poor thing," said neighbor Barbara Williams, who watched from a distance.

With help from the pig's owners, who live in Bar Harbor, police and firefighters were finally able to muscle the animal back onto the trailer, where it laid down on a pile of dirt and crab apples and closed its eyes.

The owners then jumped into the cab of the pickup truck and resumed the trip to the slaughterhouse.

[senorita02]

that is sooo sad and horrible

[Miss Z]

I am a veggie and that stories like that have made me one. I don't see how those owners could live with themselves after their pig drove itself to near exhaustion to get away Some people are sick they make me sooooooooooo mad fortunately there are a lot of people who care about animals out there and will stick up for animals in need!

[jackie]

Yes, it is sad, but that pig was born and raised for food. The owners aren't bad people, everyone has a job.

[Vela]

Well first off, the pig probably had no idea it was being sent to the slaughterhouse. We too often give all animals human thoughts and emotions and while they do have feelings and shoudl be treated with respect, even slaughter bound animals, it is highly doubtful that the pig knew it was being sent to the slaughterhouse. More than likely it got scared by traffic and ran because of that. There is nothing wrong with raising animals for food and not everyone wants to be a vegetarian. I personally have had pigs and a steer raised for food and right up until death they lived a humane well cared for life and were perfectly happy their whole lives. They were never treated badly and always had free roam and good food. To accuse the owners of being horrid people because they raised a pig for food and it took off down the street, is rather silly. It ran until it was exhausted probably becuase it was scared, but doubtful it was scared of being slaughtered, since it probably had no idea. It is sad the pig was frightened, but that doesn't make the people who raised it for food horrid people.

[Corinna]

Vela, well said I am goingto agree with you. It will most likely put us both in the "doghouse" with many people here on the form but I love a good pork chop and steak and make no apoligies for it. I too raised animals for food all my life, the last 5 years I haven't been able to (living in town). Sure miss good meat store stuff is really bad. Had a couple cows, pigs,and rabbits in 4-H projects .

[.sarah]

Yes, it is sad, but that pig was born and raised for food. The owners aren't bad people, everyone has a job.

That statement breaks my heart

[Miss Z]

Exactly .sarah i know just what you mean. I read somewhere that chickens going to a slaughter house will only be six weeks old because they have been interbred to produce huge sizes at a young age. Also, in the slaughter house, five chickens are kept in a cage that is no bigger than a household oven. Surely that is not acceptable?

[CagneyDog]

That statement breaks my heart

I'm not sure why you find that statement so heatbreaking?