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Runaway Pigs Lead Chase on Iowa Streets
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[November 15, 2007]
DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) -- Pigs running loose on the streets? That's not the kind of call an animal control officer relishes. Take it from Leah Messmer, who spent about 35 minutes chasing down two pot-bellied pigs Wednesday morning across several Davenport streets.
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 "You really have to go after them," said Messmer, noting that this was not the first time she had to chase down a runaway pig. "They dart in and out of cars and somebody could get hit. That's why you have to catch
'em. Poor little buggers."
The pigs darted between passing cars and explored various streets on the city's west side
-- all while their pursuers tried in vain to corner them, even attempting a few unsuccessful dives.
The chase included two officers from animal control, two police officers and a couple MidAmerican Energy employees.
The pigs were first spotted about 7:30 a.m. by a caller who alerted authorities. Right away, Messmer knew she was in for a long morning. Luckily, experience was on her side. Learning from her first pig chase, Messmer knew to grab a blanket.
"They're tough," she said. "They have no necks so you really can't get a collar on them."
The first pig was captured behind a hotel. The second wandered behind the hotel, then doubled back. Along the way, workers at various businesses stuck their heads out in disbelief. Some went back in to retrieve cameras.
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 Patrol officer R.F. Grover didn't quite believe the call. He texted some friends and called his wife while he tried to head off the pig in his squad car.
The last one finally was captured in a car lot, cornered between two vehicles awaiting repair.
The pigs will be sent to an animal shelter, Messmer said. She presumed they were pets from someone living in the area.
"They're like dogs," she said. "They tend to go back to familiar places."
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Information from: Quad-City Times, http://www.qctimes.com/
[Associated
Press]
Copyright 2007 The Associated
Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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