Cordell, an eight-month-old pig, is an escape artist, but a new fence finally has him grounded
HANCOCK COUNTY — In communities throughout the county, people are used to seeing stray dogs and cats on a daily basis and always seem eager to look out for them. Lately though, there has been a most unusual animal people have been looking out for — a pig.
That’s right, a pet pig named Cordell who keeps getting loose, running out for daily adventures.
While seeing a stray farm animal outside near farms now and again in some of the more rural areas in the county is nothing odd, Cordell lives in a pretty populated neighborhood just off of Gem Road in the 4000 block of West Oak Drive in the Lantern Woods subdivision.
Seems the eight-month-old mini-pig is quite the escape artist. Despite numerous efforts by his owners, Abigail and Kyle Pond, and to the joy of many neighbors, Cordell had been able to bust free for a couple of hours most days until lately. He’s been seen trotting about from yard to yard saying “hey” and grabbing a snack before heading back home around supper time.
One neighbor posted on social media, “I believe Cordell just rounded the corner on Catalina Dr!” while another added, “I’m just really upset I can’t ever be the one to spot him!” Still another added, “He needs to come visit me — I would love to feed him some corn!”
The family has always loved animals but, due to allergies, Abigail can’t have standard pets, so the family opted for unconventional ones and own two pigs, Cordell, who is just a baby and big boy Virgil, who is three times Cordell’s size. Fortunately, Virgil stopped straying years ago before the family moved into their home in New Palestine.
While the family had worked daily to fix the pig pen and keep Cordell secure, for a while there, he wanted no part of staying put and somehow always found a way to get out.
“At this point, I am convinced he can fly,” said Abigail.
Cordell apparently can lift and move a significant amount of weight with his nose. Even when the family has put metal flats or a large cement bucket in front of a hole he has dug, he’s able to move the heavy barriers and take off.
“Of course we are always worried when he gets out, but luckily our neighbors look out for him,” Abigail said. “A lot of our neighbors love him and always bring him scraps and vegetables.”
Cordell, who is also known by his closer friends as Walker Texas Ranger, has an adventuresome spirit, and the family feels fortunate to be surround by neighbors who seem to be having just as much fun with his outings as Cordell does.
One neighbor posted, “pig loose in the quail run neighborhood.” Another said, “Run Cordell Run! Sketchy meat truck dude is out at (U.S.) 40 and 200!!! Don’t let him find ya man!”
Abigail, who works just a few minutes from the family home, is able to get to the house fairly quickly when Cordell breaks out. The family put up a more secure fence for Cordell this past weekend and so far, so good.
Cordell has been grounded. But like most youngsters, they fear Cordell just won’t settled for being inside a pen and will somehow find a way out.
“He’s young and he just likes to take off,” Abigail said. “But, if you can get close enough to him and shake his food cup, or get behind him and clap, he’ll head right home.”
The family has gotten so much interest in Cordell, the pig and his big brother now have a social media page on Instagram called livinghighonthehogs, Virgil and Cordell Pond.
This past weekend, they posted a video of Cordell playing with some pretty strong inflatable balls — ones he was trying to pop. The hope is things like toys will keep him busy and distracted from wanting to bust out.
Cordell posted, “Mom got me some new toys! She must feel bad for keeping me confined to my own, all day.”
Still, the family knows Cordell is just biding his time, planning another escape and they ask, if seen, please just say “hey” and send the big fella on home.
