THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 29, 1995 TAG: 9507290271
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LARRY W. BROWN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
In the still of a humid night this week, Pinky Starlight - the overweight pig - was taken from her Norfolk home to the suburbs to avoid being hauled into custody.
The Vietnamese potbellied pig had been ordered out of town by animal control officials after she was accused of biting a neighbor last week. 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 night.
It was the latest chapter in Pinky's battles with authorities.
``It was the day of reckoning, but I got her out of town,'' Hudgins said Friday afternoon.
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.
She won the battle to keep Pinky, but the pig was placed on a court-approved diet. She had dropped to about 180 pounds by May.
``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 near the Municipal Center. She said the move spared her the expense and heartbreak of having Pinky impounded.
Plus, by taking her pet across the city line, she can visit the pig when she wants to.
``I like to be flexible,'' she said.
Hudgins said she and Pinky are close, making the separation hard on them both.
``She's used to being catered to,'' she said. ``Pinky's not a farm animal, she's an exotic animal.''
For the time being, Hudgins is trying to adjust. She said she woke up Friday morning feeling tense and upset without Pinky around. Now she is vowing to bring the pig back home to the 8100 block of Simons Drive, north of East Little Creek Road near Forest Lawn Cemetery.
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.''
``This was only the first bite reported to us,'' McKeon said. ``We warned her one time when she was letting the pig run at large on the street.''
But if Pinky remains in Virginia Beach the case is closed, McKeon 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.'' ILLUSTRATION: STAFF FILE
[Color Photo]
Pinky's owner won permission in November to keep the potbellied pig,
which was placed on a court-approved diet.
by CNB