Lexington, KY - When traveling through the neighborhoods off Tates Creek Road, especially in the warmer months, passers-by can catch a most unusual sight lumbering along in the side yard of a corner lot on Hartland Parkway. Willie Wilford, an 8-year-old, 350-pound black pig who calls the suburbs his home, has been responsible for numerous double-takes and prolonged stares over the years. Serving as a mascot/celebrity of sorts for the area, Willie is not your typical pig - he lives indoors and even boasts his own Facebook page (just look for Willie Wilford).
Having been in the care of proud owner Brandon Wilford since he was a piglet, Willie is more than a house pet and roadside attraction; in fact, he has participated in numerous charity events throughout the years, having been responsible for more than $15,000 in fundraising revenue for various organizations.
Wilford insists that he has acquired no personal gains from his pet, aside from the love and affection associated with animal companionship. "I have never made a dime off of him," he says. Instead, Wilford's rewards come from dressing Willie up in tank tops and t-shirts and showcasing him at events -
especially ones involving children, such as Farm Day for local daycare classes. Willie has even made sports fans go hog wild as a tailgating sensation decked out in Wildcat regalia during two trips to University of Kentucky football games.
At his home on Hartland Parkway, while strolling through his yard with Willie, Wilford fields many inquiries from passers-by about Willie -
how much does he weigh, what does he eat, where does he stay -
but the most common question: "Can I take his picture?" While a small percentage of visitors are confounded by the notion of a giant pig living in the suburbs, Wilford insists that "most people are just curious to see him up close and are nice people."
Willie came into Wilford ownership eight years ago as a baby via an Estill County farm. He initially dined on mixed vegetables, slept in a dog crate and began disciplinary training at the ripe age of three weeks.
"He is definitely spoiled, but he does do anything I tell him to," says Wilford. He often refers to Willie as a "big baby" and notes that he whines like a dog when circumstances aren't to his particular liking. For a treat, Willie will even sit.
Contrary to common belief about pigs, Willie does not enjoy leisurely rolls in the mud (a trick farm pigs learned to keep from getting sunburned), though he enjoys drinking water from the hose and being sprayed by it. He makes at least two trips outside a day to do his business (pigs are naturally "housebroken"), often partaking in brief jaunts of exploration in his front and side yards. Wilford contends that there is little chance of Willie "wandering off," as he doesn't move very fast and tends to hang very close to the homestead.
Sleeping indoors at night, in the closet of Wilford and his wife's bedroom, Willie has a ramp off the home's back patio which allows him more accessibility when he needs to go outside. His daily diet consists of two pounds of Iam's dog food, which assures that he receives the nutrients and vitamins his immense body requires. The average life expectancy of a pot-bellied pig ranges from 20 to 24 years, and if a record of optimal health continues, Willie will have little trouble reaching that figure. You could say Willie has been living high on the hog.
Wilford is quick to remind others that pig ownership is an involved process that requires more than simple, tender loving care. "Many people don't understand what it takes to care for a pig like Willie Ö first you have to make your house 'pig proof.'"
Armed with a palette of unique personality, this pig brings heaps of enjoyment to his owners, and many other members of the community by doing little more than being his large lovable self. As was oft muttered in the E.B. White children's classic "Charlotte's Web," Willie Wilford is certainly "some pig."