Heroic Pig Who Rescued Family From Fire Receives PETA Award

Pigs Should Be Friends, Not Food, Says Group

For Immediate Release:
June 11, 2014

Contact:
Sophia Charchuk 202-483-7382

Ina Farler and her grandchildren were sleeping in their trailer when their potbellied pig, Lucky—who sleeps at the foot of Ms. Farler’s bed—began loudly squealing and nudging her until she awoke to discover that her home was on fire. Ms. Farler helped her grandchildren escape first, and a neighbor helped get her and Lucky out. Ms. Farler believes that she and her family would have died without Lucky’s help. For his lifesaving actions, Lucky will receive a Heroic Pig Award from PETA.

“Pigs aren’t walking entrées—they are individuals, friends, and even heroes,” says PETA Senior Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch. “PETA hopes this incident will inspire people to value pigs as friends, not food.”

Like the dogs with whom many people share their homes, pigs are smart, sensitive animals who can be loyal, playful, and protective. Pigs have been documented using tools, playing video games, using a thermostat to adjust the temperature in their barns, and even turning on a shower to cool off.

PETA is sending Lucky a framed certificate and a goody bag containing a toy, a comfortable harness to wear on walks, and an assortment of vegan treats.

Lucky is fortunate to have a home with a loving family, because many potbellied pigs are abandoned by their guardians once they grow too big. PETA encourages anyone with the time, willingness, ability, and resources to care for an animal properly to adopt from a shelter and never to buy any animal from a breeder.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.