A popular pig in Central Saanich has died, after 18 years of delighting passersby on the Lochside Trail.
The pig belonged to farmer Frans Winkel and his wife, Marjolyn, who have also owned other popular pigs in the past.
“We have been raising here on this place for about 50 years,” he told CHEK News on Saturday.
Winkel says this particular 18-year-old pig died in her sleep Friday.
“She had a good life and she had good surroundings,” he said.
“She had a place to rut around and sometimes escape through the electric fence and dig up my lawn,” he added.
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The elderly pig was recently in the spotlight after someone reported concerns to the BC SPCA about a skin condition she was dealing with.
Winkel was then ordered to have a vet check out the pig, though he said he was already treating the condition, and he was concerned he couldn’t afford the additional veterinarian check.
After the public voiced support for the farmers, the BC SPCA offered to have the pig examined for free.
Winkel says he’s grateful for all the feedback he’s gotten from the community, not only for this pig but past pigs as well.
“They come and tell us the stories and we are so grateful for all these stories that come loose,” he said.
“There was even one lady who got her now-husband on one knee to ask her to marry her [here], and I mean these are the stories that make you laugh,” he said.
Winkel says he’s sad to see the pig go, but he’s happy that so many people enjoyed her company.
“It was too bad that they had to go, but if you get old you get all kinds of problems coming up, and that was a good way of going,” he said.
Adam Chan
