There's a new star on Blackpool Promenade and he's hogging the limelight!
Wilbur the pig has become a common and popular sight in the Lancashire resort on the walks he loves along its famous beach, as reported by LancsLive.
Nurse Jane Sudds adopted Wilbur during lockdown in the winter of 2020 and he has lived in her home with Pomeranian dog Moo and cat Kitty.
He regularly snuggles up to both, as well as Jane, who said: "He really likes to go to the beach, though he didn’t like going in the sea at first. He just trots up and down and everyone wants to come and pet him and cuddle him.
"A half-hour walk will always take double the time because of all the people who want to stop and say hello. He’s really loving and always wants attention.
"He’s also a proper foodie - strawberries and melon are his favourite. His favourite thing to do is to follow me around!
"I think he thinks he’s smaller than he is, but he’s actually quite a heavy lump, but it’s so lovely.”
Jane adopted Wilbur from micropig breeder Kew Little Pigs and had to complete a pig-keeping course.
He also had to stay at home for 20 days, while his owner applied for a walking licence, including details of the routes they would be taking.
“There is quite a lot to it," Jane said of the requirements for keeping a pet pig. "You have to be sure you have some outside space because many pigs like to be outside for the majority of the time.
"Wilbur just wants to be wherever I am, but he also has his ball pit, mud pit and sandpit in his outside pen. When I go to work he enjoys it out there, and Kitty goes outside too so I think she pays him a few visits in the day."
Jane's friend Hannah, who lives nearby, has also adopted Wilbur's brother Boris.
It means the pair are united when either Jane or Hannah go on holiday, although the appropriate authorities have to be informed if either pig is moved from one house to the other, as they are still classed as livestock.
On her decision to approach Kew Little Pigs, Jane added: "Kew have been brilliant. I had read horror stories about some places that sell standard piglets as micro pigs and lie about their ages, so I’m so glad I did my research and found Kew. Adopting Wilbur has been wonderful - he’s like a dog, but more too!”
To find out more about Kew Little Pigs go to kewlittlepigs.co.uk
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