Captured Mom Pig Has Injured Hoof: Police

WAYNE, IL — A group of young residents in Wayne captured the mother pig among a family of pigs that have been on the run this past month, but three other pigs are still loose in town.

The mom is being treated by a local veterinarian for what appears to be a "slightly injured hoof," Tim Roberts, chief of police with the Wayne Police Department, told Patch in an email response Thursday. Several young residents chased her down and got ahold of her, but three other pigs in her family got away.

"She has been brought to a local veterinarian who has experience working with pigs. She will be held with the rescue team, temporarily in the hopes that we will catch the rest of her family soon," Roberts said. "The rescue team is altering some of their tactics, which may lead us to catching more of the loose pigs."

Authorities have been trying for weeks to corral the family of pigs after they got away from their home near the west side of town.

Earlier this month, the Wayne Police Department alerted the public to the situation in a Facebook post, asking Wayne-area residents to let them know if they have information on the pig's owners or if they spot the pigs.

On Aug. 2, an officer attempted to round up the pigs in the area of Army Trail Road near Robin Lane. Since then, residents living on the western portion of Wayne have provided daily updates to police regarding pig sightings.

"Although, they have ventured out a bit farther, they have primarily remained in the same area as they were first spotted," Roberts said. The person who owns the pigs lives in an unincorporated area of Wayne near the west side of the town.

Meanwhile, officers in Wayne have captured other animals on the loose in town. On Aug. 4, they rounded up a herd of goats and returned the animals to their home.

"Well...the pigs are still at large but we were able to round up the herd of goats that were loose this afternoon," authorities wrote in the Aug. 4 Facebook post. "(Now) back to the previously scheduled search for the pigs."