And this little piggy came home.
A pot-bellied pig was reunited with her rightful owner Wednesday morning, breaking the hearts of those who wanted to adopt the lost animal found Monday in Ingleside.
Owner Pawel Janusz of Ingleside said security footage from outside his home indicated the pig may have been stolen and then released.
After talking with Lake County sheriff’s deputies, it was decided a police report was not needed since the pig was recovered unharmed.
The young female pig, named Barylka, which is Polish for a small barrel of liquor, may be looking and feeling even better after the experience.
“They gave her a bath and skin treatment. She’s great. They took good care of her,” Janusz said.
The 36-pound pig was found wandering in Ingleside Monday afternoon, and a concerned person took it to the Round Lake Animal Hospital. The pig was then taken to the Lake County Health Department’s Animal Care and Control facility in Libertyville, where it was given a bath and a temporary home.
Pictures the animal hospital posted on social media went viral, and comments from people wanting to adopt the pig quickly followed. The exposure also helped Janusz learn of his pet’s whereabouts and bring Barylka back home Wednesday afternoon.
“She’s happy. She’s tearing the whole house upside-down and eating everything,” Janusz said.
Janusz bought the pig for his 6-year-old son Zane, who is currently with his mother on a 10-acre farm in Missouri. Janusz said he will be joining his family on the farm soon.
Zane will be visiting Lake County in a couple of weeks and plans to thank the staff at animal control for helping with his pet, Janusz said.
Officials from the health department and the manager of the animal hospital had both noted Tuesday that it was clear the pig was a pet because it had been well taken care of and was not only domesticated, but house-broken as well.
Had the owner not been located in 10 days, health department spokeswoman Leslie Piotrowski said it would have been transferred to a rescue organization to arrange an adoption.
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