Humane Society and Jelks family partner to provide porcine protection
Panama City, Fla.
In response to increasing interest in the fate of a feral swine living in a Panama City park, the Humane Society of Bay County and local animal philanthropists Debbie and Allen Jelks have partnered to provide safe passage to the Jelks' 90-acre property in Ebro - once the wily swine has been trapped.
Efforts to trap the animal have been consistently thwarted by kind-hearted individuals disabling the trap for fear that the animal will be euthanized, officials suspect.
"We felt that if we could promise the pig safe passage to a forever home, that trapping efforts might be successful," said Niki Tudge, Executive Director of the Humane Society of Bay County. "And we're so thankful the Jelks' stepped up - they have been staunch supporters for years both individually and through the Jelks Family Foundation, which awarded a $10,000 grant to to the HSBC last year," she said.
Animal Control officers were alerted to the young hog's presence in the spring by neighbors annoyed with the pig's propensity to dig up their yards. The pig was spotted regularly in a park in the Cove area of Panama City, and interest grew. Neighborhood residents began feeding the pig, and he developed a fan base and even a Facebook page called "The Pig of the Cove."
Allen Jelks, a local attorney with Jelks & White, P.A. and his wife Debbie confirmed Thursday that they will foster the pig on 90-acres of land they own in Ebro. "He can live out his life without the constant fear of having to save his bacon from cars, pet dogs, or hunters," Tudge said. "We'll even maintain updates via Facebook and the Humane Society's Web page on how he's doing. But the first thing we need to do is catch him," she said.
Anyone sighting the pig, which has gone underground since attempts on Tuesday to tranquilize him, should be reported to Bay County Animal Control at (850) 784-4005. Anyone caring to contribute to the care and transport of the pig may donate here.
"The sooner we can catch him, the sooner the Humane Society of Bay County can take custody of him and ensure his health and safety," Tudge said.
