Where did the piggys go?

Published 10:36 pm Friday, June 6, 2008

By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Niles Daily Star
DOWAGIAC – This is the tale of three little pigs. These pigs, though, probably won't be going to market or even to the Cass County Fair.
Danyell "Dany" Roberts, who turned 11 on Tuesday, had been working with these hogs in order to show them at the fair – her first time no longer a pee wee.
Unfortunately someone most likely upset with the idea of pigs in the neighborhood, took matters into their own hands in a cruel way and poisoned the pigs' water pan.
Her mother Bonnie Swan and Bob McCarty set up a fence the size of a truck bed and shelter at McCarty's home on Spring Avenue off Atwood, east of Dowagiac.
And now, "it's turned into a huge thing," McCarty said.
It may look like country, with a field across the street and each home having about three acres or so along the other side.
The pigs were only going to be there until the fair in July. Three days after the pigs moved in, McCarty found out the land was set up as a subdivision in the 50s, and was the zoning doesn't allow livestock.
Dany went to the Wayne Township Board to ask for her 4-H project be allow to stay until July. The vote didn't go her way, but she was allowed until June 5 to move her pigs or receive a ticket and fine.
She was told she would need to come to a planning commission meeting on June 12.
She had already done quite a big task for a little girl – to stand in front of a group of board members.
"I was nervous and crying," she said. But she has accepted the decision and the three show hogs, which still run the risk of dying before the fair, were moved to a grandmother's property.
Now she must decide whether to purchase new pigs and have less time to work with them or take a chance hers will live.
"When we found them she called the vet," said her mother. Antifreeze and motor oil had been added to the water.
The Michigan State University 4-H Extension office told her she could take the chance, but they could die within four weeks or replace them within two weeks, even though it is past the ownership date.
They won't know if they will be able to ever sell them at the youth sale, Bonnie said, and then there is the cost of buying new pigs.
They take two pigs to show, but usually raise three, just in case.
All receipts and feed purchases are recorded and the 4-Her makes a book, as part of their project, she explained.
"We can't afford three, but have been given a good price for two," she added.
Dr. Frank Butts, both a vet and the Wayne Township supervisor, has been very understanding, McCarty said.
Still they don't expect any variance to be approved.
What they are hoping is that the girls show chickens – small guineas, will be allowed to stay in the garage.
Dany's two sisters also expect to show chickens, as pee wees.
On Thursday the girls were all making signs to put up at their house, shaming whomever poisoned the pigs.
This soon to be Kincheloe fifth grader and her sisters, Tonya, 8 and Elissa, 6, are all members of the North Red Hill 4-H Club.
This club recently honored Bob's grandmother for her many years of service as a key leader, Virginia Edgerly. Bob is Bonnie McCarty's son, also a long time key leader.
Dany also is anxious to take candles, canning, flowers and storybook, but excited to be old enough to show pigs.
The chickens the girls handle from the time they are purchased. they stay very small and they hold them and tell the judges about them.
"It's hands-on and simple. They talk about them," their mom said. "They are easy animals for pee wees. The older kids take it further."
The family has had more than their share of problems in the past year.
Bob and Bonnie's daughter grace was born 11 months ago with a curved spine. They had extra travel for doctor visits and x-rays.
Bonnie had a cancerous tumor removed which was resting on her bladder. She previously took drastic measures to assure she won't die like her mother of breast cancer, after doctors determined she had that gene, she said.
Basically, the pigs were brought to the house originally, she said, because she couldn't drive her daughter over to an uncle's to work with them while she was recovering from surgery.
Bonnie, who was raised by her grandmother, Bonnie Whitley, of Yaw Street in Dowagiac, said they moved to Spring Avenue a year ago, hoping the girls could have miniature horses there.
They had hoped to show their ponies, kept at another relatives, but due to their mother's operation, they missed the necessary testing date.
"Tonya loves her chickens. The kids hearts are broken. They understand about the pigs, but no one sees or hears the chickens."
Their hope remains with the chickens – they they will be accepted as pets and not livestock and be allowed to stay.
"It has been a learning experience, in case she wants to run for government," she said of her daughter.
She may now understand more about rules and regulations, but she won't ever understand how someone could poison her 4-H pigs.