en en en en en it en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en
The huge animal surfaced close to Casitas Springs on a Sunday in late January, emerging multiple times from bushes along a multi-use trail near Highway 33 and Casitas Vista Road.
“I can’t imagine what hikers and bikers thought when he was crossing the path,” said Krystal Tronboll, founder of Steampunk Farms Rescue Barn, a nonprofit livestock rescue in San Diego County where the massive creature now resides. “Gosh, what a shock to people out for a bike ride!”
MORE:Southern California firefighters rescue dog who got head stuck in tire
The big pig’s appearance on the paved pathway sparked a chain of Herculean rescue efforts that eventually delivered him to his permanent new home.
On the Sunday morning he popped up, a call to Ventura County sheriff’s dispatchers described him as a wild boar. Later that day — Jan. 27 — the California Highway Patrol took a call from someone trying to keep the pig from running into nearby traffic lanes.
Ventura County Animal Services staff responded and found the pig hanging out on the trail. A staff member described him as an “easy capture,” a friendly pig who walked right up into the trailer.
MORE:How Ventura County is working to increase broadband
The pig was taken to the county’s Camarillo shelter, where someone named him Half Ton, an initial moniker that turned out to be a good fit. The pig, whose name was slightly modified later, was treated for lice and perked up quickly.
No one showed up to claim him. The unneutered pig — a boar — was clearly bound for market, not a pet, said Randy Friedman, marketing manager for the animal services division.
SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM: If you enjoy offbeat stories like this, consider a digital subscription to The Star for unlimited access.
‘We were out of space’
Animal services staff contacted Katie Cook, founder of The Little Farm in Ojai, a nonprofit sanctuary for farm animals. Cook had previously taken pigs from the county shelter, including a large one now named Wilbur who arrived a few weeks earlier.
But Cook had no room. Her sanctuary operates on multiple small sites around Ojai. Days before, she had taken in seven young potbellied pigs from a Riverside shelter as well as two alpacas.
“Unfortunately, we were out of space,” Cook said.
She was under the impression there was urgency to find permanent housing for the big pig, who was reportedly feeling his oats and had damaged his pen. She took up his cause on Instagram in early February, rallying the interest of other rescuers and making the connection with Tronboll at Steampunk Farms.
But transportation posed a problem. Steampunk Farms is in Ranchita, a remote, unincorporated community in the high desert of eastern San Diego County.
Cook ended up paying $500 for a professional hauler to take the boar on his long trip.
At the other end of the journey, Tronboll agreed to take on neutering and additional veterinary expenses totaling about $700.
Around Feb. 8, the pig arrived in Ranchita. Tronboll had seen photos that led her to believe he was black. Instead, an unusual beast stepped out.
MORE:Census outreach organizers fear missing people and dollars in Ventura County
“When he walked off that trailer, I thought: ‘I don’t know what that is,’” Tronboll said. The pig had a reddish, rusty tone and was not a standard farm breed. “He was really a unique-looking guy.”
He was now also her largest.
“We thought we had a pretty big pig at 600 to 700 pounds,” Tronboll said, referring to the former No. 1. The newcomer was obviously bigger.
Using a standard formula based on girth and length, she calculated the former Ojai pig’s weight at 881 pounds.
“That’s not quite a half ton, but it’s pretty darn close,” she said. A ton is 2,000 pounds. After Halfton gets fixed — and gets his “dad bod,” Tronboll said — he’ll probably gain enough weight to exceed the half-ton mark.
‘He’s friendly and he’s healthy’
The Camarillo shelter had given Half Ton a nearly perfect name, she said. But Tronboll made it a single word — Halfton — pronounced with what she calls “a British flair.” The updated version is said more like HAFF-tun, with less accent on the second syllable, similar to the surname “Hampton.”
Tronboll currently has about 128 pigs, which make up the bulk of rescue animals on her 10-acre site. About half were family pets, she said. Others came from laboratory settings or youth programs aimed at raising livestock for county fairs.
Halfton, she believes, came from a farm setting, where he seems to have been mostly well cared for.
“He’s friendly and he’s healthy,” Tronboll said.
MORE:Ventura County schools aim to smoke out vaping epidemic through education
He was initially a tad aggressive around food, perhaps from his time on the loose. The first time Tronboll came around with Fig Newtons in her pockets, Halfton raced toward her.
“I’ll admit I jumped over the fence,” she said. Now they understand each other, she said, and get along “really well.”
After he’s neutered, Halfton will join a herd of about 18 other farm pigs. Pigs form tight social bonds, Tronboll said, choosing favored pals and roommates to sleep with.
“It will be interesting to see who he chooses as his best friends,” she said.
Steampunk Farms’ heaviest pig arrived with a touch of fanfare due to media coverage and social media chatter about his bike path appearances.
“Halfton is the first one we’ve ever had that was a local celebrity of sorts,” Tronboll said.
Anyone can visit Halfton and the other animals at Steampunk Farms, she said. She recommends visitors contact her first through the group’s Facebook page or via email at steampunkfarms@gmail.com.
“People are always welcome to come visit with us and get their hands dirty,” she said. “There are always projects going on and lots of mouths to feed twice daily.”
Kaiser executive headed to new job at county Health Care Agency
Mountain lion that attacked runner in Colorado was later eaten by other animals
Runner attacked by mountain lion wrestled with it before killing it by stepping on its neck
Careers Staff Directory Accessibility Site Map Legals Our Ethical Principles Terms of Service Privacy Policy Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy PolicyDo Not Sell My Info / Cookie Policy
Contact Us Support Local Business Advertise Your Business Advertising Terms and Conditions Licensing & Reprints Help Center Subscriber Guide My Account Give Feedback