VIDEO: Piglets rescued from Lough Ree island

Local volunteers took part in a very unusual rescue operation yesterday (Thursday) evening, when they brought three little piglets to safety from an island on Lough Ree.

The intervention was organised by Athlone woman Cheryl Mellett who said she believed the piglets were pets that had been abandoned on Carberry Island.

She was contacted by the owner of the island who had become aware that the piglets were there and was concerned for them.

Cheryl is a former member of Athlone Sub Aqua Club and on Thursday evening last some of the club’s members assembled and travelled out to the island to rescue the piglets with their nets.

“We found that they were clearly underfed. They were underweight and very hungry, but were calm and quiet,” Cheryl told the Westmeath Independent.

That evening, she took them in her car to the Kildare-based Little Hill Animal Rescue & Sanctuary, from where they are due to be transferred to the care of the Kildare Animal Foundation.

Cheryl sent us these videos of the piglets being rescued and then being fed yesterday evening:

http://youtu.be/QAabZEmOdZA

http://youtu.be/hi7eCZMJqL8