She steals peanuts from behind the bar, tries to slurp from customers' pints and regularly rams the kitchen door looking for food. But the landlords of the Conquering Hero pub in West Norwood, south London, wouldn’t dream of banning their favourite resident, Frances Bacon.
They adopted the micro pig as a family pet when she was six weeks old and from the beginning she has been hogging the limelight. Over the years she’s charmed drinkers in the pub and beer garden, where she has her own custom-built pen and house. Now 12, her favourite spot is lazing in front of the fire and getting a fond scratch behind the ears from regulars.
“She’s a lovely old girl, a mixture between a Gloucester Old Spot and Vietnamese Pot- bellied pig,” explains landlord Vicky Taylor-Ross, 46, who runs the pub with husband Ian, 50.
“She has the run of the pub and loves to greet her many fans who come to see her armed with treats like carrots and acorns.
“The funniest thing is when someone who hasn’t visited before sees her snoring by the fire,they look up in wonder and ask me ‘is that really a pig sat there?’.”
But Frances is not always so relaxed, especially when food is involved. Vicky adds: “She’s been known to turn over bar stools in search of peanuts, and likes to headbutt the kitchen door to try and get in. We often have to put a stairgate against it, to try and keep her out. But she’s very clever, and will go outside and see if she can get in the back way.
“Now she is getting old she can’t go up stairs so sleeps downstairs - but when we go up to bed, she gets out of her basket to check to see if we’ve left the door of the kitchen or bar open in search of crisps. We can see her doing it on the CCTV.”
The family, including children Tavis, 17, Ruby, 14, and Mary, 10, were determined to get a pig because dad Ian grew up with them in San Diego.
Vicky says: “We wanted them to experience the wonder of having a pet pig.”
“Frances was house trained within 48 hours of having her home. There is a perception that pigs are dirty but she’s exceptionally clean. She is getting on now, but could live until she is 18, so we are hoping for a few more years with her. She’s been an absolute joy and is certainly the Queen of the pub.”
Wagony Aunt
Dogs Trust expert Dr Rachel Casey answers your canine conundrums.
We’ve noticed the cost of our dog food has gone up in price. Is it ok to swap to a cheaper dog food?
Dogs Trust recently surveyed dog owners to find out how they were feeling about the rise in the cost of living, and one in five dog owners said that the rising costs had forced them to switch their usual dog food to a cheaper version.
'This may seem a good way of saving money, but it’s important that you first check to see if the food you are buying is ‘complete’, and can be given to your dog by itself, or if its ‘complementary’ and needs to be served with other foods to deliver all the nutritional needs of your dog. It's also really important that you check to see if the food is suitable for your breed of dog and the stage of life your dog is at.
'For example, puppies require different nutrients to adult dogs, and senior dogs will also have different nutritional requirements. We’d really recommend that you speak to your veterinary surgery for advice before changing your dog’s food to ensure it’s right for your pet.
'If you do go ahead and swap your brand of pet food, please do this gradually to introduce new food as a change in diet can cause stomach upsets. For the same reason, it’s also really important that you try and stick to just one brand of food and do not “chop and change” your dog’s diet.'
For more information and expert advice, visit dogstrust.org.uk. Do you have a question for Rachel? Email petclub@mirror.co.uk
Cats Corner
This pair of kittens have changed the lives of two children with autism.
The Thompson family adopted Tigger and Pearl from a rescue centre in Whitchurch, Shropshire, to become companions for seven-year-old twins Henry and Amelia. They both have autism and learning disabilities and dad James thought they would benefit from being
around animals. The twins were immediately besotted with their new pets and James says: "The kittens are already part of the family and act as companions and help to reduce stress and anxiety, and improve behaviour and social skills as the children feel more relaxed around them. It’s also helping with language development and communication skills as the children speak, play and communicate with and about their pet. It’s also teaching them empathy and how to care for something.”
Pet pic
Give an appreciative woof to Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service’s newest recruit, a Sprocker spaniel called Barney.
Dog handler Tim Marston got 12-month-old Barney last December and has been training him ever since.
The pair, the 16th fire dog team in the UK, investigate the cause of fires. Barney can sniff out flammable liquids at a fire scene within minutes, helping to confirm whether the blaze was started deliberately.
Barney is Nottinghamshire’s second fire dog, joining Dexter, and both dogs work across the East Midlands, kitted out in protective boots to protect their paws.
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