Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Woman is held captive by pony-sized pig

Kathy Marks
Tuesday 23 September 2008 19:00 EDT
Comments
(AFP/Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A rogue pig the size of a Shetland pony held an Australian woman hostage in her home yesterday after barging into her bedroom at 4am.

Caroline Hayes, 63, fed the 180lb animal and treated him for an eye ailment after he turned up at her rural property in northern New South Wales 10 days ago. But then Bruce, as she named him, began behaving like the lord of the manor.

"He started getting very pushy, started pushing me around," she told ABC Radio yesterday. The situation deteriorated to "the stage where it started knocking on my door at four o'clock in the morning, actually head-butting my door".

Bruce was after food, according to Ms Hayes, who tried to fend him off with a broom. He snapped it in half and then trapped her in her bedroom, preventing her from going outside to the lavatory. She summoned council rangers, who arrived with a dog cage. They lured Bruce into the cage with some food, but he was too big for it, so he reversed out.

Rangers plan to return today and sedate Bruce before taking him to a piggery. They believe he is a pet who was turned loose in the rainforest after he grew too big to keep.

But Ms Hayes, an animal lover and vegetarian, says she will be sorry to see Bruce go. "I haven't stopped crying," she said.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in