Oink! Porcine runaways find sanctuary

Thanks to Ballydidean Farm Sanctuary in Clinton, the ham is no longer on the lam.

By Kira Erickson • February 10, 2023 1:30 am

A slew of piggy escape artists that have made regular appearances in the police blotter and on local Facebook pages recently found a new home on South Whidbey.

Thanks to Ballydidean Farm Sanctuary in Clinton, the ham is no longer on the lam. Owners Ansel and Sarah Santosa added the four new pigs to their growing brood, which presently totals 115 animals.

Since its founding in 2018, the farm sanctuary has experienced significant growth. Just within the last two years, the number of residents has doubled each year. The Santosas are focused on rehoming animals whenever possible, such as the trio of pigs rescued by a supporter of the sanctuary on Jan. 19.

Named Baby Sunlight, Mama Sunlight and Uncle Sunlight for the Sunlight Beach neighborhood where they were found, the pigs came with some health issues that will need to be resolved before they can be adopted this summer by new owners. They currently have patchy hair that suggests an infection of some sort, and Baby Sunlight has a limp.

Ballydidean Farm Sanctuary took over care of the Sunlight pigs from the previous owner, who surrendered the swine to the Island County Sheriff’s Office. The Santosas will continue to foster them until they are neutered, spayed, healthy and ready to go to a new home.

The Santosas captured another pig, a serial escape artist named Friday, with the help of a volunteer near Andreason Road on Jan. 13.

“Catching pigs is very difficult,” Ansel Santosa said. “They’re so dense and muscular.”

The couple had no time to do research on the best tactics when they received word, on their way home, that a pig was loose in the Bayview area. They eventually caught up to the surprisingly fast Friday and tackled her.

Concerned neighbors familiar with the hog’s antics urged the farm sanctuary to take her in on a permanent basis. While the original owner was initially reluctant to let Friday go, four donors covered the cost to purchase her.

So far, Friday has only tried to escape once from her new home.

“Pigs are difficult to contain, especially if they’re in a place they don’t want to be,” Ansel Santosa said. “They’re very strong; they’re good diggers.”