Pigs found on I-40 moving to Florida

Durham, N.C. — Five pigs that fell out of a truck and got loose on Interstate 40 in Durham County in March were auctioned off Friday to an animal rights group.

Fourteen people, including animal activists and pig farmers, showed up at the auction at the Durham County Animal Shelter, at 2117 E. Club Blvd. The animals were auctioned off individually and all sold to a representative with the Jacksonville, Fla.-based animal sanctuary CJ Acres.

The group paid $3,200 for all five pigs, including $1,500 just for the fifth pig, which was given the nickname Babe at the Durham shelter.

A spokesman with CJ Acres said the group plans to drive the pigs to Florida on Friday using a carrier truck.

The money raised will pay for the care the shelter has provided to the pigs since March 30 when morning commuters spotted them running scared in the roadway and called police.

Shelter manager Shafonda Price said the pigs, estimated at 40-60 pounds at the time of their capture, have been thriving and growing while they are being held in Durham.

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backwards: And you are probably one of the people that supports abortion. Animals were put here as a food source.

Firstly, true compassion/respect for life is not mutually exclusive. Most people who support animal rights support human rights on the same grounds. They reject exploitation, abuse of power, etc. because they’re cut from the same fabric: violence. However, where human rights are often a given (no argument), animal rights (even the most basic) are a contant struggle/moral dilemma for obvious reasons. Secondly, doesn’t it seem rather simplistic, convenient, and self-serving if we're the final authority to life's most pressing questions, esp. those under your mercy? Given the silliness of the human race and the fact that human nature (power, greed, selfish desires, etc.) has often delayed truth and justice throughout history even for humans, what if your attitude towards animals merely illustrates a human concept for man’s own advantage? What if you are dead wrong?

chiefemail
May 31, 2011 4:56 p.m.

It's important to show compassion for all living things--human and animal. Who is anyone to "rank" how someone spends their $$, as long as it's for something kind?

mckimberly
May 31, 2011 1:45 p.m.

Too bad they are going to Florida? Really? We have more pig Sanctuaries here in Florida than any other state! We have plenty mud because, guess what? It rains here, duh..... Hey prozacdispenser how much do you send every month to "hungry children"? Most people who are compassionate for animals are compassionate all around. The Government needs to feed the starving children it created with the recession. We so called "animal rights" people do what we can to help all God creations, read Genesis, we were never meant to eat animals but live in harmony with them. We humans screwed that up, just like everything else. Oh and backwards; Betcha keep your dog on a 4 ft. chain in your backyard.

bkaelin98
May 31, 2011 11:45 a.m.

I thought they were going to be adopted out to individuals, as pets. Well... too bad they're going to Florida. Pigs don't sweat... Don't know how well mud remains mud in Florida.... sounds miserable to me. Maybe they'll be in air conditioning? ;)