A Pig's Tale

We have had some interesting animal encounters where we live.

While we do live in rural Mississippi, we still live in a neighborhood. We are by no means in the boonies. However, occasionally we are visited by some unexpected creatures.

When my daughter was less than a year old, a peacock used to visit us. Sometimes it would stand on the patio by the french doors, and sometimes we would see it perched on the house. It delighted H, but after a few months it disappeared as mysteriously as it had appeared.

One day, I looked out my front window to a mama pig and five babies rooting around my yard. After watching them tear up the flowerbed, I tried to scare them away, but the mama pig did not like me and seemed to be pretty protective of her little ones. I called my husband at work to see what to do.

After suggesting a meal of ham and bacon, he suggested that I call the sherrif's department and ask them what to do.

I called them and they told me that right now animal control did not even service us in the county and to call 911.

I called 911 and explained that there was no emergency, but there were pigs in my yard that I wanted to be rid of. They said they would send an officer right out.

Sure enough, a patrol car pulled up in my driveway. The deputy scratched his head and asked for a broom. He yelled and chased the pigs with the broom until they ran up the front hill and into the neighbor's yard.

He walked back to the house, returned the broom with a satisfied smile, and declared his work complete. I told him that I thanked him, but I doubted that my neighbor would.

About the time he got to his car, from the woods behind my house a man on a horse rode up. I assume that he owned the pigs although he did not say a word to us. He herded them up by yelling SUEY and chased them down the road.

I am not making this up. Wouldn't it be a great episode for a sitcom?