Derbyshire community rallies around to save pet pigs from slaughterhouse

Office administrator, Claire Critchlow, who lives in Ashbourne, was initially meant to collect the two, five-year-old, female pigs from the Youth Hostels Association (YHA) in Castleton, yesterday (Monday, September 28).

But the 44-year-old was shocked to find out that the pet animals were instead not going to be rehomed with her, but allegedly sent to a slaughterhouse to be killed.

Claire claims she spoke to someone from the Castleton, Losehill Hall housing association, who told her that the agreement to rescue the pigs had ‘fallen through’ and now it had all been ‘arranged and processed’ for the pigs to be taken away.

She said: "I was just told 'really sorry, that's what's happening'.

"I've offered them a really lovely home and they've told me no, they are still going to slaughter.

"It is just really sad because it is completely unnecessary.

"They are just innocent animals and everybody loves animals so it comes down to them being slaughtered and nobody likes that even if they are meat eaters.

"Yes it might have been processed, they might have a slaughter number but this isn't something that can't be undone, it is only a bit of paperwork.”

The Ashbourne resident who lives on a farm took to Facebook, where she created a post alongside her daughter, Ellie, urging people to help them save the pigs which can live up to 20-years-old from their bleak fate.

In the message, which has had 71 comments and 54 shares, Claire wrote: “So I was going to collect these pigs tonight and give them a forever home but Castleton Youth Hostel have arranged for them to go to the slaughterhouse.

"Share this post, let’s try and save these girls!”

The Derbyshire Times contacted the YHA and they reassured the public that the female pigs are not now going to be killed, but re-homed.

In a statement, they said: "We have been trying to re-home the pigs during the pandemic lockdown.

"We are very glad to say they are going to a great new home, staying in Derbyshire, where they will be lovingly looked after.“

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