Pet pig puts wind up family as farting prompts gas leak fears

By Kelly Ryan, Herald Sun
November 27, 2009

• Family calls 000 to report 'gas leak'
• Smells found wafting from the 120kg porker

A PORTLY pig with flatulence triggered a minor emergency near Bendigo this week when smells wafting from the 120kg porker sparked fears of a potentially dangerous gas leak.

Two Country Fire Authority tankers and 15 firefighters turned out in darkness to search the source of the leak at a property at Axedale, east of Bendigo. But the likely culprit was soon sniffed out, the pet sow startled from slumber in the dead of night.

"She got very excited when two trucks and 15 firies turned up and she squealed and farted and squealed and farted," said fire chief Peter Harkins.

"I haven't heard too many pigs fart but I would describe it as very full-on."

Mr Harkins said the family had done the right thing by calling 000 to report a suspected gas leak: "It's all bottled gas up here and a leaking cylinder could pose a major fire risk.

"It was because we took it so seriously that 15 volunteers still managed to attend the call out at 10.30 on Tuesday night."

Mr Harkins said the day had been both wet and warm, as well as slightly humid.

"Smells are always exacerbated in those conditions. We got to the property and we could smell a very strong odour in the vicinity.

"It didn't take us too long to work it out because we could both smell and hear her."

The pig, a family pet, was lying low yesterday, her embarrassed owners refusing media requests for a photograph of their porker.

She is believed to be a friendly and docile animal, a much loved children's pet, possibly in need of a change of diet.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26407128-13762,00.html

(Submitted by Peter)