A Melrose police officer came to the rescue of an unusual city resident this week who was in harm’s way, hoofing it around Main Street.

Officer William O’Donnell with the pig he saved from traffic. —Melrose Police Department

According to the police department, Officer William O’Donnell responded to the scene near Billy’s Roast Beef & Seafood on Wednesday following reports that a pot-bellied pig was wandering in the area.

Police said O’Donnell found the frightened pig around 8 a.m. and was able to calm her down and eventually pick up the 40-pound runaway. He put the pig in a resident’s backyard until Animal Control arrived.

“This just goes to show that you never know what your next call will be,” Chief Michael Lyle said of the rescue. “Officer O’Donnell is an animal lover and he was the perfect person to respond in this situation.”


The pig was later reunited with her owners, according to police.