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Wilbur the pig went from wandering through a West Hollywood neighbourhood to becoming the unlikely focus of an adoption contest. After his appearance was captured on video and spread online, the pig was taken to the West L.A.
Animal Shelter, where no owner came forward. Four people eventually expressed interest in adopting him, prompting a silent auction. As reported by ABC news, the winning bid came from Marcia Zwilling, managing director of the Diane Warren Foundation, on behalf of Oscar-nominated songwriter Diane Warren. Warren had seen footage of Wilbur and wanted him somewhere safe. He will now move to her seven-acre Malibu sanctuary, joining other rescued animals.
Wilbur the pig attracts four hopeful adopters after his West Hollywood rescue
Wilbur was first noticed wandering through a West Hollywood neighbourhood, where his unexpected appearance was captured on video. The footage circulated widely, turning the loose pig into a familiar sight to people following the story.His journey changed when he was safely taken to the West L.A. Animal Shelter. Staff waited for an owner to claim him, but nobody came forward. That left the shelter facing a rather unusual adoption situation as word about the pig continued to spread.
By Thursday, four people had arrived with hopes of adopting Wilbur. With more than one prospective home interested, the shelter used a silent auction to decide who would take responsibility for him.
Diane Warren wins bid to give Wilbur a new home at her Malibu sanctuary
The successful bid was made by Marcia Zwilling, managing director of the Diane Warren Foundation. She was acting on behalf of Warren, the songwriter behind numerous film songs and a 17-time Oscar nominee. According to Zwilling, Warren had seen news footage of Wilbur running through West Hollywood and immediately wanted to help.
She contacted Zwilling with a simple request."Diane saw the news clips and saw the little pig running in West Hollywood and she just called me and said, 'Please get the pig, get the pig!"For Wilbur, that meant a move from the animal shelter to a very different setting. He is now headed for Warren’s seven-acre sanctuary in Malibu, where he will live alongside other rescued animals.
A seven-acre sanctuary in Malibu
The sanctuary is intended to give Wilbur plenty of space and company.
Zwilling said he will have other animal companions around him and will be fed what she described as gourmet salads. There is also a small complication with his name. Warren already has another pig called Wilbur at the sanctuary, meaning the new arrival may eventually be given a different one.Warren has suggested “Hollywood” as a possible replacement, a fitting reference to the place where the pig first became known.
Warren jokes about her Oscar record
Warren has spent much of her career writing songs for films and has received 17 Oscar nominations without winning the Academy Award. Her reaction to Wilbur’s arrival was characteristically light-hearted. “I lose Oscars but I won a pig,” Warren said.The remark came as Wilbur’s unusual journey reached its final stage. What began with a pig appearing unexpectedly on West Hollywood streets ended with him being claimed through an auction and given a permanent home at a private animal sanctuary.
