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BY LARRY GRARD
Staff Writer 06/24/2008

enlarge Staff photo by David Leaming

HERE PIGGY PIGGY: Jerry Hart attempts to coax a wayward pig a little closer with dog treats in an attempt to capture him after showing up at a residence on the West River Road in Waterville on Thursday.

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WATERVILLE -- A taste for French fries cost this pig its freedom.

The Vietnamese pot-bellied pig that has been roaming the Waterville area this past month was captured Saturday on West River Road.

Waterville Police Deputy Chief Charles Rumsey said Monday that someone who had been feeding the pig French fries called police, who responded to the scene around 6 p.m.

Police then briefly stunned the gray pig with a Taser gun, then captured it with a snare pole, Rumsey said.

"We took the opportunity to deploy that Taser for a short time," he said. "The pig was not injured whatsoever. It suffered no ill effects."

Police took the pig to Donald and Judy Shores' Oak Street farm in Oakland until its owner can pick him up, Rumsey said.

Rumsey said it was important to capture the pig because it could pose a public hazard if it dashed across traffic.

"We were very concerned with it running out into the roadway and causing a traffic accident," he said.

Judy Shores said that she is keeping the pig in a cattle pen for now, hoping someone will claim him. The animal seemed no worse for the wear, she said.

"He seems to be OK," Shores said. "You can't put them pigs just anywhere because they get away."

The pig's owner sure knows that. Shores hopes the owner will step forward and claim it.

"I don't really want it," she said. "They're a nuisance. You have to have a pretty good fence for them."

Waterville homeowner Pam Hart tried to capture the pig Thursday.

Hart used cat food to lure the animal, but was unable to get close enough to grab it.

In late May, Colby College officials spotted the swine near the softball field.

Students were able to leash him, but he slipped the leash at a cookout, and had been a free-range pig from then until Saturday.

Larry Grard -- 861-9239

lgrard@centralmaine.com

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