Five piglets have been returned to their home after a bizarre custody battle involving a not-for-profit animal sanctuary and the animals’ owner.
Edgar’s Mission, in Lancefield, came under fire after five baby pigs that came into their care were alleged by their owner to have been stolen from his small farm near Cranbourne on September 23. The owner, hobby farmer Sam McCarthy, also alleged that up to 30 other pigs, a goat, several rabbits and an American bulldog called Junior had been “released” from his farm.
RSPCA Victoria chief executive Dr Liz Walker confirmed that the litter was handed over to an RSPCA centre in Pearcedale, which transferred them to Edgar’s Mission. The Lancefield sanctuary owner, Pam Ahern told
Star Weekly that the pigs had recently been released back to their owner.
Ms Ahern said the charity had been subjected to an unwarranted smear campaign on social media and criticised for supposedly refusing to return the piglets to the owner.
“We rely on public support so when our organisation is at the centre of controversy surrounded by half-truths and malicious hearsay, it’s deeply upsetting and harms our efforts to be the best advocates for animals,” Ms Ahern said. “Edgar’s Mission maintains we have always acted legally and in the best interests of the piglets.”
The RSPCA advised that the piglets had been handed in by a member of the public who had found them abandoned.
“We assessed the piglets to be in a poor and unhygienic condition, consistent with the story that they had been abandoned,” Ms Ahern said. “One piglet was taken directly to a local vet and it received ongoing medical treatment while in our care.”
Of the other piglets, Ms Ahern said three were underweight, with ribs, spine and hips protruding, and had untreated wounds. All piglets had lice.
She said the sanctuary received a phone call from a member of the public who claimed to be the owner of the piglets and stated that the Pearcedale RSPCA had given him the contact details of Edgar’s Mission. “Edgar’s Mission had no legal duty or right to hand the piglets to any party except the RSPCA. The RSPCA was responsible for the piglets at that time,” Ms Ahern said.
Mr McCarthy said his partner had returned from work on September 23 to discover their hand-reared piglets had been taken from the house. He said there had been no concerns about the animals’ welfare and a vet had given a clean bill of health just days before their disappearance.
According to Mr McCarthy, Ms Ahern had refused to return the pint-sized porcines. “She wouldn’t let me in the door … I’ve done nothing aggressive or threatening, I just want my pigs back,” he said.
with The Age
