PENDLETON COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) — More than 500 pigs roam the grounds of a farm in Northern Kentucky, but they won’t be there much longer.
The state is seizing them in an animal hoarding case, unless rescue teams can nurse the sick ones back to health and find them homes. Volunteers from four states are spending their Labor Day tracking down and nursing pigs back to health.
“Make sure they’re being fed properly. make sure they have water constantly because of the heat. Put up some shade shelters,” said Cotton Branch Farm Animal Sanctuary Josh Carpenter Costner.
Joshua Carpenter Costner drove in from South Carolina.
Hundreds of pigs were malnourished and emaciated and some are young expecting mothers.
“To see pigs in this condition, it’s just heartbreaking as it would be with any animal,” said Costner.
The male and female pigs have been separated behind newly built fences.
Jodi Vicar Dawson said that she sees a daunting task ahead. She said that her first goal was to save at least 20 pigs, but now with more volunteers, it is to save as many as possible.
“When you’re sick, they stay by your side. They want the love. They’re a very loving animal,” said Dawson.
Each pig needs to be spayed and neutered.
They need to be microchipped, and to leave the state, they need a health certificate from a vet. The good news is that the original deadline of Sept. 14 has been pushed back to mid-October, giving them much-needed breathing room.
Volunteers say that they need about $15,000 to help with the rescue effort.
You can donate here.
