Police in Albuquerque went on a wild chase to catch a runaway pig.
Police Chase Wild Pig Down Albuquerque Highway
Police in Albuquerque were sent on a wild... pig chase recently when a furry, four-legged delinquent was spotted going for a joyride down a local highway.
The Albuquerque Police Department went a teensy bit viral lately when they posted completely hilarious bodycam footage of officers chasing down a wild pig that was running loose on the highway, with officers trying to catch up with the animal both in a car and on foot.
The pig was making its way through traffic and decidedly running away from the cops (guilty until proven innocent in this case and this case only) and proved to be quite a fast runner. Eventually though, an officer was able to pick it up and (incongruously) place it in the backseat of the police car.
The Albuquerque Police Department responded to an unusual call recently.
"Yesterday, APD officers responded to a call unlike any other… a suspect on the run… with four legs, a snout, and a surprisingly good set of wheels," the Police Department quipped on a Facebook post which boasts 11k reacts at time of writing.
"Yes, folks, a wild pig decided to take a joyrun through Albuquerque traffic, dodging cars and officers alike. After a brief (but spirited) foot pursuit, our team managed to safely detain the porky perpetrator. No one was hurt, and the pig is now in safe hands… though we can’t confirm if he’s facing 'hog time' or just a stern talking-to. 🐖💨."
Dashcam footage showed the pig being chased down by a police car on the highway.
They continued, "We’re happy to report that no one was hurt, and the pig is currently being held at the Westside Shelter awaiting release on his own recognizance. We’d like to thank our officers for their quick response, the public for their patience, and the pig for keeping things interesting."
We're also big fans of the hashtags they used: "#APD #CaughtRedHooved #ThisLittlePiggyWentDowntown #OnlyInAlbuquerque."
The pig ran for a while, but eventually let himself be captured.
Given this was one of the more lighthearted missions local police have historically had to deal with, it's pretty understandable that one officer can be heard saying in the footage while driving the car in pursuit of the pig, "I have the coolest freaking job!"
"Not a dull moment for you all. I’m guessing it was one of the more enjoyable though," commented one person on Facebook.
"Nothing like a good fun day on the job! Better than all the other 💩 they have to deal with!" said someone else.
The pig was named Parrot after nobody claimed him.
Animal Welfare field lieutenant Lt. Ramon Candelaria told Police1 that he believes the pig, later dubbed Parrot, is very much domesticated — otherwise it wouldn't have let anyone handle it like that.
"Pigs are real funny. When you touch them, they’ll squeal bloody murder but this guy has been handled a lot," Lt. Candelaria said.
The pig does not have a microchip. Lt. Candelaria expressed surprise that no one had claimed him yet.
As of November 14, Parrot — who was 1 year old — was scheduled to be adopted.