Family heartbroken after rehomed pig goes missing

Milly Stannard knew she was chancing her luck when she agreed to take in a pet pig at her council house.

The mum-of-three had been warned by friends that livestock is banned from local authority homes, but for almost a year Albert went unnoticed.

That is, until a neighbour alerted the council and Miss Stannard was told she had to wave goodbye to her beloved pet.

Facing eviction from her Littlebourne home, she was left with no choice but to give Albert up, breaking the hearts of her three children who saw him as part of the family.

Now she is on a desperate search to find him once again after learning the farm that promised a “forever home” no longer has him.

Nash Court Farm in Margate told the Stannards he would be found a mate and they could visit as often as they liked.

But on their latest trip to the Thanet site they discovered he was no longer there. Miss Stannard, 32, says the news devastated her children; Shannon, 11, Scarlett, six, and one-yearold AJ.

“We were all sobbing when he left,” she said. “He was like one of the family and actually thought he was a dog, I’m sure.

“I couldn’t put my family at risk of eviction so we had to give him up, but we found some comfort in the fact Albert was going to be well looked after.”

The family visited a few times, but on the last occasion was told he had been moved to a new yard in Ashford.

Nash Court Farm assured them Albert was alive and well but had new owners and could no longer be visited.

However, the Stannards have been unable to find him.

“Our worst fear is that he’s been killed, which I can’t bear to think about. He was saved from the slaughterhouse before he was given to us,” said Miss Stannard.

“If he is safe and with new owners, we just want the chance to say goodbye. The girls are heartbroken.”

The Gazette contacted the owner of Nash Court for comment but the phone line went dead after our reporter introduced himself.

If you know where Albert is, email kentishgazette@thekmgroup.co.uk.

Shannon with Albert the pig and right, Milly Stannard says Albert thought he was a dog