EADS, Colo. — The 400-pound pig that had city and shelter staff chasing him around the city of Aurora has headed off to his forever home: Eads High School in southeast Colorado, the city's animal shelter announced.
If you remember, this porky pig had officials trying to pen him down in residential yards wreaking havoc on landscaping. The swine-spottings came in from all around the city, but eventually, they were able to get him safe and sound in the Aurora Animal Shelter.
Now, Fred has found a stable and loving home among the student body at Eads High School's Future Farmers of America program— the school's staff picked him up on Friday. He'll have a top spot in the school's continuing breeding education in livestock if he's the right match for the female pigs in the program.
Aurora city officials first heard about Fred being on the loose on Sept. 24. Augusta Allen, field supervisor of Housing and Community Services at the shelter, said this pig was put in the pen after a crime spree around town.
"We got a call that he was tearing up somebody's lawn early in the morning and we went out, we couldn't find him then," Allen said.
>Watch video above that aired on Oct. 6: '400-pound pig captured after brief crime spree'
For days, this sassy swine was spotted around Aurora, with calls coming in from folks who spotted Fred around traffic and tearing up landscaping. It didn't take long for his list of crimes to rise.
"Property damage, being too cute, maybe waking people up," Allen said, laughing. "He would probably be a pretty horrible alarm clock to wake up to and look out your window and there’s this giant pig eating your lawn."
He seemed to be having a good time until Fred's captors finally caught his trail.
"And we finally got him at Chambers and Alameda, which is that big intersection right by the municipal center, hanging out in there," Allen said. "It was a big enough parking lot that we could work with it. Got him loaded up and got him over here. It was funny."
After so long on the lam, Allen says this 400-pound hog didn't go down easy. "He got a little dramatic, didn't want his holiday to end so early," she said.
"We will miss him greatly," Allen said. "He is such a sweet boy. And I tell you, when I take my breaks and just need to get out of the building for a minute— I come back and give him scratchies and little treats. I almost feel bad for the farmer that gets him because he's going to expect those things now I think. It'll be great."
But, she said they're hopeful they'll find friend a spot that feels like hog heaven.
“He’ll be happy and he’ll be in a much better place," she said. "We’ve had several rescues reach out and the shelter manager is in the process of figuring out where he’s going to go. Hopefully, next week— early next week he’ll go to his new home."
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