He would only stop to play with people’s cats and dogs …
They say it takes a village to raise a child—but in East Petersburg, Pennsylvania, it took an entire community to safely rescue a runaway pig.
The saga began over a month ago in Bent Creek, Pennsylvania, when neighbors spotted a stray pig roaming the streets. Concerned for his safety, they immediately contacted Lancaster Farm Sanctuary (LFS), who sent a team of rescuers to help.
“[We] set up a pen to try and get him,” LFS shared on Facebook. “Neighbors put up trail cameras and did their best…” Despite weeks of effort, Petey—the pig’s eventual name—managed to evade capture and disappeared from the neighborhood entirely.
LFS staff were anxious about Petey’s well-being until another group of neighbors spotted him several miles away in East Petersburg. Once again, kindhearted residents sprang into action, determined to bring Petey to safety.
The rescue team, including Tom Tagliari, Karen Grimaldi, Jessica Turner, and Libby Rannels, worked diligently over several days to gain Petey’s trust. His shy, skittish nature made the task challenging, but their persistence paid off.
“One remarkable neighbor, Karen, earned his trust with food and water, eventually hand-feeding him!” LFS reported. With Petey finally comfortable, the team executed the final stage of their plan.
“Tom set up our pen in Karen’s yard, and together they successfully secured Petey the following morning,” LFS wrote. Once safely contained, LFS rescuers rushed him to the sanctuary, providing him the care and protection he needed after weeks on the run.
Petey arrived at LFS exhausted but unharmed. “He was captured near a busy road, and we can’t imagine how alert he must have been all these weeks,” LFS staff noted.
Despite his challenging journey, Petey seemed to enjoy a few playful encounters along the way. Reports suggest he even made friends with neighborhood cats and dogs. His human admirers also grew fond of him during his travels. “If it were up to me, he would still be roaming the neighborhood,” commented Sal Grimaldi.
Now safe at Lancaster Farm Sanctuary, Petey is beginning to rest and adjust to his new home. While he may take some time to fully recover emotionally from life on the streets, he is surrounded by a team of dedicated caregivers ready to give him love and attention.
“[I’m] so glad we were able to safely capture Petey and get him to the best home at Lancaster Farm Sanctuary!” Libby Rannels wrote, reflecting the relief and joy of everyone involved.