<p>A passel of pigs provided an adventurous Saturday evening in Aquinnah for police and residents of Lighthouse Road, who tried to corral the swine during a six-hour ordeal.</p>
A passel of pigs provided an adventurous Saturday evening in Aquinnah for police and residents of Lighthouse Road, who tried to corral the swine until their owner could cart them back to their pen.
According to a police report, officer David Murphy responded to the area at a few minutes before 5 p.m., followed quickly by special officer Michael Leccese.
“We immediately observed numerous pigs on both sides of the road,” Officer Murphy wrote. “Due to the number of pigs and our inability to capture them, we continued to monitor and keep them safe from vehicle traffic.”
Animal control officer Angela Waldron arrived, along with special officer Donald Scranton. The spectacle drew a crowd of neighbors.
It wasn’t clear where the pigs were before they got loose.
Police determined they were owned by Joe van Nes, who has a business that rents out animals to get rid of unwanted vegetation, according to the police report. Police were told he might be on Chappaquiddick. Poor cell phone reception in Aquinnah and on Chappaquiddick apparently hindered communication.
A neighbor offered to temporarily corral the pigs in her yard, which was somewhat bounded by shrubs, a gate and a rock wall. The police report noted that the yard was well kept and recently landscaped.
“While attempting to contact Mr. van Nes, a concerted effort to keep the pigs contained in the yard was taking place by numerous volunteers,” Officer Murphy wrote. “For several hours, we kept the pigs at bay by feeding them cereal, bread, fruit, leaves, and whatever else we could think of. We also fended off repeated escape attempts by a couple of the determined swine.”
It wasn’t until nearly 8:30 p.m. that Mr. van Nes arrived with temporary fencing to contain the pigs. The plan was to barricade the pigs until their owner could retrieve his livestock trailer from West Tisbury. The plan almost worked, with one pig escaping.
Mr. van Nes and volunteers spent some time attempting to capture the rogue pig while his co-worker went to retrieve the trailer. Eventually, police said, “the rogue pig had subsequently tired himself out form his extended escape.”
The exhausted pig was secured in yet another neighbor’s yard until the trailer arrived at about 10:30 p.m. The owner, police and volunteers managed to get all the animals aboard the trailer and sent them off to West Tisbury. The operation wrapped up at about 11:30 p.m.
The next morning, it was evident that the pigs had caused considerable destruction to the yard where they had been temporarily corralled the night before. Mr. van Nes has agreed to reimburse the homeowner for the damage, police said.
On Monday, police officers and residents were still chuckling about the six-hour adventure in animal husbandry.
“Nothing out of order, the usual summer,” said Chief Randhi Belain with a laugh. “It’s a first for Aquinnah. We’ve had goats loose. But pigs? No.”
Comments
Correction: It's Joe van Nes
Kristine PatnugotCorrection: It's Joe van Nes - not Joe Van Ness. Also, the pigs and the company are co-owned by myself and Joe van Nes. I was there on Saturday, and while I'm not thrilled about the pig escape, I am a little disturbed that my presence has been completely omitted in this article. Fact check, please.
As I sit drinking my coffee
Toni Kauffman Burlington, NJAs I sit drinking my coffee this morning, I must admit I had to chuckle too! Glad it all worked out!
I noticed Joe van Nes' name
Kristine PatnugotI noticed Joe van Nes' name has been corrected, yet still no mention that he was not alone - that I also helped to chase the pig, I went to get the trailer and that I co-own the business. While I am not excited that our pigs were out, to completely ignore that Joe van Nes is not the sole owner of the pigs or of Scapegoats is to exclude a woman, and an Asian woman in particular, from the narrative. Is this simply a lack of facts or racism and/or sexism on the island? I have experienced both and am now understanding how systemic and endemic these things are in the Vineyard. Interesting, MV Gazette.
Apologies to the reader —
EditorApologies to the reader — there was no slight intended. The information for the story came from from the police report; Ms. Patnugot's name did not appear in the report.
Who cares who owns the pigs.
Phillip McCavity Oak BluffsWho cares who owns the pigs. Be a responsible owner and keep them properly fenced in. Stop pointing fingers at the Gazette and attempting to deflect attention from your own negligence. As a long time Vineyard Gazette reader I am quite certain they don't have a secret policy of discrimination against female asian owners of farm animals.
Really if my animals escaped
John ElsewhereReally if my animals escaped and were out of bounds I would be grateful if my name was omitted
To be honest, my response
Kristine PatnugotTo be honest, my response wasn't about actually getting my name in the paper and I agree with you. I was just tired and too often, in this business, in particular, I am treated at best, as a subordinate (mostly as itinerant laborer of some sort), and at worst, as if I am invisible or don't exist. My partner is treated quite differently as a white male.
My pigs in CT escape to the
Betsy Houle Andover, Ct & West TisburyMy pigs in CT escape to the river....
I think it is wonderful that
Oswald Sykes Delmar, New YorkI think it is wonderful that those pigs had a moment of freedom before Mr. Van ness turns them into various cuts of meat. I am convinced that pigs understand a lot more than we think they do.
I'm with you, Sykes!
Martha MageeI'm with you, Sykes!
What fun it was to see the
Diane & David JensenWhat fun it was to see the piggies! How timely that officer David Murphy came along to redirect them- they were having a great time! Julia Kendrick& her 2 yr old twins happened by too- only on our beautiful Vineyard, right!
I wonder what Mona would say.
Martha MageeI wonder what Mona would say. .
"-)
Pigs in the parlor!
Uncle Charl Thonsen Farm ~ Middletown NYPigs in the parlor!
DO - SI - DO !
Bacon, anyone?
Juleann West TisbryBacon, anyone?
I'm wondering why the names
Matt Blumberg AquinnahI'm wondering why the names of the pig renters were left out of the article.
My ancestor was a Hog Reeve
PAUL W WALES ChappaquiddickMy ancestor was a Hog Reeve for the town of Braintree in the late 1700's. I'm not looking for the job, but maybe Aquinnah should consider adding one to the town payroll?
I apologize to the Gazette.
Kristine PatnugotI apologize to the Gazette. It has been a tough road being a business owner and often being treated as if I am invisible due to the fact that I am often dismissed as an itinerant laborer. To one of the responders, don't criticize a person until you've walked in their shoes. We were not negligent and our fences hold more often than they do not. Animals get out from time to time.
Good fences make good
Good Neighbor Dukes County USAGood fences make good neighbors. I would say this business is being treated with a great deal of lenience under the circumstances. "I keep to the right most of the time officer" won't hold water. "I would have stopped at that stop sign but nobody was coming officer" will get you a ticket. " I usually stop for school busses" will land you in court. I don't see an ounce of racism or sexism here. I see a paper and a police department, plus one very kind neighbor, making light of a costly and resource consuming situation. And I am good with that. I would suggest that you are part of this Island's fabric. Our restaurants are mostly up to code, our taxis are not that bad, our illegal apartments are relatively safe, our fences mostly prevent breakouts...my dear business owner...you have arrived...and have created a business that fits nicely...it enriches you, on occaision causes great undue strife, and you make a buck. If you feel like an indentured servant, so does everybody else who owns a business here. Please count your blessings. And your pigs.
As a participant in the
Nathalie AquinnahAs a participant in the Lighthouse Road pig round-up, I want to note that everyone involved --the police, animal control, renters, neighbors and Kristine and Joe--acted with grace and humor in this unexpected situation. As a co-owner, Kristine stepped up and showed remarkable courage and skill in dealing with 10 big,disgruntled pigs. All's well that ends well and we now have another indelible summer memory of life in Aquinnah.
I echo Nathalie's comments.
Carmen AquinnahI echo Nathalie's comments. It was a bonding moment for all involved, including the pigs. We are grateful to the Aquinnah police for their creative response, to the family that put in the call of "pigs on Lighthouse Road!!" and helped herd them back up the street with their young son who saved the day, and for everyone's good-natured response to an exciting Saturday night on Lighthouse Road.
Be thankful it wasn't horses!
Gail Francis Seabeck,WA/EdgartownBe thankful it wasn't horses! Tougher to round up than pigs!
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