PROVO — Provo residents are dealing with not one, but two pigpen breaches. City and animal control officials say they have been working on a solution for more than a year.
Angela Puertas and her neighbors got a rude awakening over the weekend. "I came outside and saw pigs in the street," she said.
About 20 pigs escaped and roamed the neighborhood near 1180 North and 2600 West.
Puertas lives next to a farm full of chickens, turkeys and pigs. Neighbors say they've spent thousands of dollars to keep pigs from escaping and ruining their property, but it just keeps happening.
"I've had to call animal control over 55 times," Puertas said. "I have animal control on speed dial — that's how often that this happens."
Shelly Beagley, another resident in the neighborhood, is just as frustrated as Puertas. "I've got turkeys up on my roof, sliding down the solar panels," she said.
Beagley said the problem has cost her some serious money, too. She and another neighbor have spent "upwards of $3,000," she said.
Then on Sunday, residents were dealing with more damage from yet another pigpen breach. Neighbors said the animals have damaged lawns and property on a street off of Geneva Drive.
A neighbor took a cellphone video Sunday morning of another escape, showing nearly 30 pigs roaming the streets. Most of them ended up in a neighboring garden.
When asked if they were aware of the issue, Provo officials and animal control said they’ve been working on a solution for more than a year.
“Throughout the last year and a half, we’ve seized pigs, chickens, turkeys,” said Provo Police Lt. Brandon Post.
Provo police and animal control are very familiar with the ongoing animal issue.
“From June of 2014 to today’s date, we’ve received over 50 calls for service for animal control to go out and deal with different issues,” Post said.
They’re also well acquainted with the landowner, Matt Baker.
“Currently he has 14 different charges pending with the city attorney’s office here in Provo Justice Court,” Post said, “and he was cited an additional 80 counts over this weekend.”
Baker is legally allowed to own animals and keep them on his seven-acre neighborhood farm, which is zoned for livestock, but he is also responsible for keeping them secure.
“You have to provide proper restraint for the animal,” Post said. “It can’t run free.”
Animal control and city officials deemed this a quality of life and public safety issue. They said they’re working toward a solution that will please everyone.
In order to avoid more violations, the city said Baker is required to house the animals at least 100 feet away from homes.
Baker said that he feels city officials and his neighbors are harassing him. "Part of the problem I've had — literally, the neighbors here are intentionally sabotaging the fences," Baker said Saturday. "I've had the gates and locks cut so animals can get out."
He believes his neighbors are setting the sows free on purpose so they can stack up violations against him.
Neighbors say that's just turkey talk.
"It's completely ridiculous," Puertas said. "Why would I want these giant pigs running around my children? It scares me."
Contributing: Viviane Vo-Duc
Email: nvowell@deseretnews.com