Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, July 30, 1995                   TAG: 9507310070
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NORFOLK                                LENGTH: Medium

TOO-FAT PIG'S OWNER WANTS `BABY' HOME

The Vietnamese potbellied pig named Pinky Starlight had been ordered out of town by animal control officials after she was accused of biting a neighbor. Officials were alerted to Pinky's behavior after the neighbor sought medical attention.

Officials then gave her owner, Virginia Hudgins, until noon Friday to remove Pinky from Norfolk. Hudgins beat the deadline Thursday.

Pinky first achieved notoriety in November when animal control removed her from the home and charged Hudgins with cruelty to animals for overfeeding the pig. Pinky weighed 230 pounds.

Hudgins won the battle to keep Pinky, but the pig was placed on a court-approved diet. She had dropped to about 180 pounds.

``When I left her last night, she was not a happy camper,'' Hudgins said. ``She is used to having family around at all times.''

Hudgins took Pinky to a friend's home in Virginia Beach.

``She's used to being catered to,'' she said. ``Pinky's not a farm animal, she's an exotic animal.''

Hudgins said she woke up Friday morning feeling tense without Pinky around. Now she is vowing to bring the pig back home.

Animal control officials, however, are not going to stand for that. ``She violated her permit,'' Lt. Philip McKeon said. ``We discussed it, and it's not going to be allowed. We warned her one time when she was letting the pig run at large on the street.''

But if Pinky stays in Virginia Beach, the case is closed, he said.

That's not going to happen, Hudgins said.

``My lawyer is going to contact the animal people to get a court date set,'' she said. ``I want my baby girl home.''