Looking for a great way to deal with the Halloween pumpkin fallout on Friday, Nov. 1?
Residents in the College Heights, Westgate and Vanway areas of Prince George can donate the tasty treat to Prince George Tickled Pig Rescue because pigs love pumpkins.
This is the fifth year the pig rescue is putting out the call to community, Kerri Hegel of PG Tickled Pig Rescue said.
They have eight rescued pigs right now, including Kohkos, Mogli, Bonk who is blind and deaf, Petunia, who is the Hixon rest stop rescue, Tank, Big Red, a rescue from along the side of the highway in Clinton, L’il One and Ellie.
“I have three large freezers just to keep the pumpkins for the pigs,” Hegel said. “Some years we’re lucky and it’s cold enough so that we can just throw them in the yard and then every once in a while we light a fire and roast some pumpkins for the pigs. It’s a real treat.”
Are pumpkins a piggie favourite?
“Yes absolutely and I know that because they will gobble them up before anything else and pigs love everything, right?” Hegel laughed. “But they do love pumpkins and it’s the perfect time to collect them as people throw their Jack O Lanterns into the garbage so we just ask people to take out any toothpicks, candles or wax, then we will come along and take them away for the pigs to enjoy.”
It's the only time of year pumpkins are available, Hegel said, so it’s important for the pig rescue to offer the service both for the pigs and for community members, knowing they are making those little pigs happy during the winter.
“And why throw pumpkins in the garbage when the pigs can eat them?” Hegel asked.
Usually PG Tickled Pig Rescue gets about 150 addresses and the family starts at about noon and goes until every pumpkin is retrieved, even if it's late into the night.
“I stick with College Heights because I was born and raised there and I know all the roads and it’s easy so we just do that area, Westgate and Vanway,” Hegel said.
“I do have a lot of other people in town that would love to donate their pumpkins. We had a lady from the Hart who collected all her neighbours’ pumpkins and we made a trip up there to collect them. It happens quite often.”
There’s even a special opportunity if people would like to visit PG Tickled Pig Rescue.
“For people who would love to meet the pigs and feed them by all means just shoot us a message and we can make arrangements,” Hegel said. “We just moved out to some acreage this summer and the pigs have so much room. They have about three acres out back but they still spend all their time in the front yard. We have people who drive by and slow down and look and one lady was out taking pictures. I thought once we moved out here we’d be with others who have farm animals but I guess nobody else has eight pigs in their front yard.”
For pick up in College Heights, Westgate and Vanway areas from noon until late into the night, simply text your address before Nov. 1 to 250-960-8048 or message the request to www.facebook.com/pgtickledpigrescue. Then leave pumpkins at the end of your driveway for collection.
