While animal shelters strive to improve the quality of life for abused, lost or abandoned animals, one couple saw an opportunity to take a life, instead. In mid-January, workers at an SPCA animal shelter in Canada said their goodbyes to a Vietnamese potbellied pig named Molly under the false pretenses that she would be going to a loving home. Instead, shelter workers were horrified to discover that the Vancouver Island couple who had adopted Molly had slaughtered and eaten her.
Just weeks after Molly’s adoption, a local woman learned via social media that the couple had killed Molly, apparently because they found training and caring for the animal more work than they had first assumed. Leon Davis, an employee of the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, has since noted that the shelter would gladly have taken Molly back into their care had they known the couple was struggling.
Davis had nursed Molly back to health after she, along with 57 other pigs, were the subject of a cruelty investigation followed by a rescue operation. With hopes of giving Molly a kind and fulfilling life following a harrowing past of fear and neglect, workers at the shelter were left heartbroken after hearing of Molly’s death.
“First reaction I’d say was shock. Heartbreak,” says Davis, “You know, all the animals that come through our care or branches we get attached to.”
BC SPCA spokeswoman Lorie Chortyk states that “the adopter gave assurances, verbally and in writing, that their intent was to keep the animal as a pet… Unfortunately, it is a rare instance where an adopter blatantly lied.”
Despite having signed an official contract stating they would not use the pig for food, law enforcement has deemed Molly’s death as ‘humane’, leaving the shelter unable to take legal action against the couple. While the breach of contract isn’t a criminal offense, the couple has been banned from adopting any animals in the future.
Chortyk reminds us that “it’s not illegal to kill your own animal in Canada.” In doing so she addresses the harsh reality of their being next to no legal protection for animals, leaving them vulnerable to abuse, neglect and even death.
While potbellied pigs can make wonderful pets, they are a big commitment, needing a great deal of attention and lots of outdoor space. According to The Pig Placement Network, pigs become easily attached to human families and can grow depressed when abandoned. For this reason, the RSPCA urges those considering taking in a pig to make sure they understand the commitment ahead of them and are certain they can provide the necessary level of care before adoption.
So so HEARTBREAKING — sweet Molly deserved to live — FINALLY — a happy, healthy life — instead, she went home with idiots and no one KNEW — they could’ve returned Molly to the caring Shelter, who clearly loved her — the good news is that this idiot couple will NEVER adopt again — they should be nowhere NEAR animals — they do NOT deserve to have animals — obviously, they do NOT RESPECT animals — I would arrest them & throw them in jail, AND slap on a hefty fine of at least $10K ///// SECOND — there SHOULD be laws on the books preventing humans from killing their pets — think about this : if a human parent killed their own child, what would ensue? — the same for humans and their pets.
One can only hope that this couple get food poisoning permanently!! They were trusted to look after this little innocent & lied, they shouldn’t be allowed any more animals, ever!!!! ????????
Cruel!
OK. Found their names. The man who shot Molly is Austin Manson Forget and his female companion is Lauren Combs. The more their names are attached to their slaughtering and eating an animal they swore to treat as a pet, the better off everyone else will be. Also see http://victoriabuzz.com/2018/02/duncan-couple-adopted-pet-pig-bc-spca-proceeded-kill-eat/
Plase give us their names. Thanks.
Identify by name the killers of this poor pig. The public has a right to know as do all other animal shelters so that these morons don’t get to “adopt” other animals. Plus they deserve the wrath of the public.
So sad that these two did this poor little pig !!!!!
They should be eaten, rotten people, pigs are very intelligent and feel pain, Rest In Peace!
Der taeter muss bestraft werden
I hope those people feel shame after they read how many people’s heart they have broken by taking this angel in such an awful way.
That’s awful bless her poor little thing what cruel people how heartless
I used to think that Canada is a haven for all living creatures but due to poor animal laws this couple got away with this cruelty. I really wish they die the same way.
What is evil to is that she was clearly sold as a pet! They signed papers saying they would not Kill or Eat her. They killed her because she was aggressive, instead of the idiots returning her.
SPCA said that is a lie. Molly showed no agression even when she nursed piglets, a time where she would be most aggressive.
They showed themselves cooking her and laughing about it on internet sites.
how sad r u really for real cruel cruel bastards
A Peters.I can’t ever seeing it happening, Not in our lifetime. The ranchers, farmers, hunters etc would never let that become into effect. It would ruin them.
Wow…that’s all I can say. Just wow… 🙁
I guess screening people needs to be more thoroughly/with a surprise visit seeing how the animal is doing-then again, it probably wouldn’t help. I’m horrified that this goes on, especially after the rescue spent time and money taking care and bringing the animal back to health. Then I think of the animal, what thoughts went through that poor pigs mind. I’m sorry this happened.
Sad and despicable.
The problem is, animals should not be considered property. They should be considered individuals, with rights to live free from harm, neglect, abuse, etc. For it to be legal to kill “your own pet” in Canada clearly disregards the animals as a living, breathing, thinking, sensing, aware being and instead views them “things.”
I agree, but Canada like the USA and other countries animals are still considered property.
Sick people, how can they sleep at night. But how can all you sick people out there eat bacon???? God end this earth now!!!
Exactly…since the law is totally ineffectual (as we have found out through school shootings here in the US) it is up to the populace to do it’s own policing not by violent means but by publicizing evil acts…and the rest of the community can shun and stop doing business with people committing despicable acts.
Please post the actual name of the couple so that NO ONE EVER adopts to them again…and the rest of us can refuse to do business with them…since the law does not work, it is time for the rest of us to do what we can by recognizing killers instead of sheltering them from public scrutiny.
If you click on the CTV news link on the original post you will find there names.
They are paying a price if not through the law courts but through the court of public opinion. He complained to the local news that he had to take down his facebook page because of all the threats they were receiving. It is not only the Cowichan SPCA he is no longer can adopt from but all the 36 branches of the BCSPCA, The story has also gone national so hopefully their names will also be on ever rescues ” Do Not Adopt” list. The Cowichan Valley is a fairly small place so I don’t think they are enjoying their life here right now. Too Bad so Sad. NOT. and that looks good on them.
Well put. Seems the UK has kinder animal laws than Canada.
Well said.
For God and Heaven’s sake! My gut tells me this was they intention of this couple all along! Poor Molly, she had gone through so much and now this! God love her, she won’t ever suffer again. I to would like to know HOW her death was deemed as “humane” when the police weren’t there? Perhaps it’s time Canada stepped up and realized a document as such as this couple signed was a binding contract and that IF they no longer wanted or loved or could not/would not care for Molly she would have been returned to the shelter from which she came! Every contract I’ve ever signed when adopting animals says this and also that we cannot give them to someone else. Molly did know the warmth and love and gentleness and kindness of the shelter staff at least before this happened. I’m sure she missed them terribly. Canada shelters, PLEASE re-word your contracts, get with an attorney to do so and make them a binding contract! DO NOT EVER LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN! Dub it MOLLY’S LAW!
It should be necessary to include a clause in the documents signed, and to also verbally inform any adults in person who are adopting a pig, that the adopters know and agree that it they can no longer take care of the pig as a pet (described in the documents signed), to call the shelter to arrange a pick up and thus eliminate transportation as an excuse to dispatch the poor pig otherwise.
How did law enforcement deemed her killing as humane if they were not there when it happened.
My heart goes out to the spirit of this pig, and those who are have suffered, or who are still suffering at Molly’s loss.
I like what Anne West said: “In England when you get an animal from a rescue organisation you sign to say the animal is fostered. The form you sign states the animal belongs to the rescue, and if you need to re home at any time you must return the animal to the shelter. Legal action could have been taken for Molly if the system was the same in Canada.
Failing a new Canadian law similar to England’s, the shelter should put in writing and verbally state that they will come to get the pig (or whatever animal) if there are difficulties that prohibit care of the animal as a pet.
Terribly sad and unfortunate. So very glad that the couple is at least prohibited from adopting more animals (from that particular shelter?), though it would be best if they were banned from owning animals at all.
You reap what you sow in life. At some point he will get whats coming to him……
I don’t understand how someone can do that. I just can’t wrap my head around it, they didn’t want to care for Molly? Why did they take the time to adopt her? Wonder if they’ve done something like this before ? I wouldn’t put it past them. Molly probably thought she had a home for ever. So sad