Animal Shelter's Burban Honors Rescued Pot-Belly Pig Bethany's Life

BRANFORD, CT —Letting go of an ill and beloved pet who loves you back and is deeply bonded to its human family — be it a cat, dog, bird, turtle, or, in this case, a pot-belly pig — is painful. But the memories remain and for many of us, our lives were forever changed by them.

Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter director Laura Burban is known for her dedication and devotion to the care of animals; the lost, found, abandoned or the harmed. So faithful to her mission, it won't come as any surprise that more than 10 years ago, an unwanted pot-bellied pig would end up living her best life in Burban's backyard barn.

And, in the living, the pig helped Burban raise and care for countless animals, dogs to ducks.

Last week, the pot-belly pig called Bethany passed away from cancer.

In an emotional but celebratory Facebook post, Burban tells the story.

"Ten years and eight months ago, the animal control team was called out to a potential cruelty complaint. Supposedly, at one of the condominium complexes there were concerns of a pot-belly pig living in a garage and being fed cucumbers.

When we arrived, we found said pig in the garage, and she was on the skinnier side. When talking to the keeper of the pig, we actually found out that she originally belonged to another neighbor, whose daughter received the pig as a 'gift' from her boyfriend. Obviously, we all know how that went.

I had a little barn in my backyard so we brought her there because at the time we had no facilities for farm animals at the animal shelter, but with the new shelter we do!

I did not intend on keeping her, but as life would have it, I was apparently meant to have this sassy pot-belly pig named Bethany. Over the years, she helped me to raise many dogs and acclimate foster puppies, kittens, bunnies, chickens, ducks, and even a turkey. She would let them know she was in charge, and they all seemed to understand right away. She also visited schools when she was young and went to our animal camp to teach kids about properly caring for pot-belly pig. She had quite an impact on this planet and on me.

She had an entire neighborhood that adored her and would all ask about her. My neighbor Joe became her piggy godfather and helped to take care of her as she became elderly.

Bethany loved roaming the property, eating pizza and her absolute favorite was penne a la vodka. Pigs are not at all what people say about them. They are clean, highly intelligent and bond to their family.

And last week we lost her at 17 years old to mouth cancer.

We never know the animals that we will save while doing this job, and we never know how those same animals will leave hoof prints on our lives forever.

Thank you for picking me all those years ago, Bethany, and thank you for teaching me so much."