It’s hard being the runt of the litter.

This piglet was very late in joining his 9 brothers and sisters in Grey Street yesterday. He was more bleating than oinking and walked less steady than the others – guessing he/she’s the unhealthiest of the lot. Unfortunately, not the cleverest either which leads to my sad story for the soft-hearted.

Pigs are well known to wait for their offspring and to run as a team but this baby failed anyway. Because i kept the gate closed, the sounder of adult swine couldn’t follow the little ones which can squeeze through a corner gap. The moms and dads ran up and down two streets in consternation for an hour but the piglets were having far too much fun in our mud and garden refuse heap to listen. The Parents gave up and moved into the forest.

About 10 minutes later, their children got in line and headed in the same direction (which gave me hope they would find one another).

Unfortunately, this little piggy got confused and went to the wrong gate. Eventually he got out only to return hours later alone. He I took pity on him and tried to befriend him with a sausage but he just got scared and ran in the wrong direction to the rest of them.

I can hope that “this little piggy cried wee wee wee all the way home” but seriously wonder if he survived the night.

We have to get rid of livestock running around town. It’s unsafe and illegal so i want the law enforced but i can’t help but feel compassionate at times. They are living beings and it’s strange that we eat them considering that they are more likeable than most animals, believe in family units and are cleverer than a lot of dogs.

Read ‘Awesome, Sweating, Pig-Catching Knysna Cops’.