Pigs Vanish From Manalapan Property As Quickly As They Came

MANALAPAN, NJ-- The pigs seen on Route 33 in Manalapan were gone so quickly it was like they flew away.

Developer Joe Spano put a small herd of pigs on his property on the corner of Route 33 and Millhurst Road sometime on Tuesday, and by evening the next day, the pigs had vanished.

"Our Code Enforcement/Zoning Officer issued a Notice of Violation yesterday afternoon to the property owner for the failure to obtain a permit for containers/structures, and a fence and for livestock in a zone where farm use is not permitted," township administrator Tara Lovrich told Patch.

The small herd of pigs was meant to be temporary as Spano sought the permits for a larger-scale pig farming operation, but this seemed more fleeting than temporary.

"As far as I know there has not been any formal proposal [for a pig farm]," Deputy Mayor Susan Cohen told Patch. "We were informed that the pigs are gone, hopefully for good."

Mayor Mary Ann Musich said the pigs had been removed at last night's Township Committee meeting in response to a speaker during the public comments section, a reader told Patch.

Musich told MoreMonmouthMusing that the pigs were removed in response to stalled negotiations between the township and Spano. Township Attorney Roger McLaughlin reportedly told Spano as long as the pigs were there, discussions about the property future would be put on hold.

Patch has reached out to Spano for comment on the pigs removal.

Image via liz west, flickr.