Post by: AngelOfThyNight on March 10, 2016, 11:22:49 AM
St. Francis had this pig's back.
A runaway piglet that sent nearly a dozen strangers scrambling down a San Francisco street was seen safe in a friar's arms after her capture outside an Episcopal friary dedicated to the patron saint of animals.
The pink and black pig momentarily halted traffic, along with morning prayers at the Society of St. Francis' San Damiano Friary when word got out that the little porker was running amok outside Tuesday.
Brother Damien Joseph said he sprung into action after a church deacon told him she believed they could help.
"She knew we'd be able to stay and see [the pig] to safety if others had to leave," he told the Huffington Post. He noted someone had called animal control before he joined the chase.
He described the pursuit as lasting around 15 or 20 minutes and including a suited businessman, a construction worker and even a fire department vehicle.
The friary posted photos of the chaos' conclusion on their Facebook page later, writing: “A highlight was the young professionally dressed man on his cellphone: ‘I’m going to be late. I'm chasing a pig.’”
Brother Damien credited a construction worker with catching the little female, which he guessed may be someone's pet.
"Quite the squeal when she got nabbed!" he said. Fortunately, wrapping her in towels seemed to calm her.
The friar, who was photographed cradling the little gal after her big morning run, said he now plans to pen "a little reflection on the lesson of the friar and the pig.
"The response of total strangers to protect this tiny helpless thing was heartening," he said.
As of Wednesday afternoon, no one has come forward to claim the piglet, a spokesperson for the city's Animal Care and Control told HuffPost.
"They could get her back if they do and if they have a good excuse on why she was running around in the street," Deb Campbell said.
The little girl is described as healthy, well fed, shy and "obviously really speedy." Impressively, she's also litter box trained.
Since word got out about her capture, Campbell said calls have poured in from the public asking if they can adopt her. Whoever owns her has five days to claim her before this happens.
One way or another, Campbell said, "it sounds like she's going to have a fabulous life!"
This story has been updated to include Animal Care and Control's response.
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Source: Runaway Piglet Finds Solace In Friar’s Arms After Frantic Foot Chase (http://feeds.huffingtonpost.com/c/35496/f/677101/s/4e268334/sc/26/l/0L0Shuffingtonpost0N0C20A160C0A30C0A90Cfriar0Ehelps0Ecatch0Erunaway0Epiglet0In0I94214160Bhtml0Dutm0Ihp0Iref0Fweird0Enews0Gir0FWeird0KNews/story01.htm)