Pigs are reunited after horror blaze
PIGLETS have been reunited with their mother after a tragic barn fire.
The sow and her offspring were separated when a blaze broke out in the pig barn at a smallholding in Clarke Lane, Bollington.
Firefighters managed to rescue nine piglets and two sows from the burning building on March 8, but one sow ran away and had to be recovered by the RSPCA.
Tragically, one piglet and one sow could not be saved and died at the scene.
Two of the piglets were treated for burns and others needed pain relief.
RSPCA officers and a vet were called to check the remaining piglets and help trace the missing mum.
She was eventually found in the countryside and has now been reunited with her piglets.
Animal Welfare Officer Steve Wickham said: “Considering what these poor piglets had been through they were doing very well.
“It was so lovely to see them all reunited. They were rooting around in the straw and were very happy.”
An investigation revealed that the fire started when a special heater used to keep the pigs warm came into contact with combustibles.