A Pig in a Pokey : Pets: Foothill Ranch man can’t control his pot-bellied pal’s wanderlust. He’s a three-time loser to animal control officers.

FOOTHILL RANCH —  When Quincy the pot-bellied pig figured out how to vault over a low back-yard wall to reach the tasty dandelion-filled hillside below, it was the start of trouble for his owner.

In the last six months, Bob Anderson has been cited three times by county animal control officers for letting the precocious porker roam on property other than his own, a violation of the county’s “staking and grazing” ordinance.

Then in March, a verbal confrontation between Anderson and an animal control officer stirred things up even more, although no charges ever came of the row.

Still, Deputy Dist. Atty. Jimmie Harris, the liaison between the district attorney’s office and animal control, said he’s never seen a case quite like this one. There aren’t many pot-bellied pig scofflaws, he pointed out.

“We just want this guy to control this pig,” he said.

Quincy has turned out to be more than his owner, a 29-year-old salesman for a medical device company, bargained for.

“When I envisioned getting a pig as a pet, I never envisioned this,” he said ruefully. “I don’t have the time or patience to continue going to court to hassle with this.”

So far, of the three citations, he’s gone to court on two and paid one $27 fine, according to court records.

Anderson said he’s doing his best to be a proper guardian for Quincy--who at 18 months is about full-grown at 60 pounds--and to make sure his pet keeps his snout out of other people’s yards.

But tell that to Quincy, who like most pot-bellied pigs loves exploring and rooting around, something pigs do for exercise and entertainment, or when they’re scrounging for food. Quincy especially likes to eat the dandelions that grow on the landscaped embankment below Anderson’s yard, only a leap away over the short concrete wall.

“Believe it or not, he can jump,” said Anderson, watching Quincy grunt around the yard on a recent afternoon, his tail twirling around happily.

“If there’s an opening or a way out, guaranteed (pigs will) find out about it,” Anderson continued. “They’re naturally curious. They sniff everything, they touch everything.”

But no matter how naturally adventurous a pig may be, animal control officer Marie Hulett-Curtner said, owners can’t let one run loose on other people’s property without written consent.

“They can be on a leash but they can’t run at large,” Hulett-Curtner said. “Every animal pretty much has a leash law. You just can’t let your pets run around loose.”

Animal control officers visited Anderson’s home, situated north of Lake Forest, after receiving complaints about Quincy from neighbors, Hulett-Curtner said. Anderson, however, claims animal control has purposely increased its patrols by his house, even though he believes the neighborhood complaints ended long ago.

Anderson admits that there have been problems with Quincy’s wanderings, but believes animal control has not always been “diplomatic” in its approach, and could stand to learn more about pigs--especially that they’re smart, harmless and never wander far.

Nevertheless, Anderson said, he wants to improve his relations with animal control so he won’t have to get rid of Quincy.

He is trying to get Quincy to wear a harness on his outings. When the pig sees the restraint heading his way, he squeals and runs. Once he’s got it on, however, he behaves, Anderson said.

Also, Anderson said he and his wife are considering building a higher wall in the back yard, although it would block their sweeping view of the Saddleback Valley.

“I’ve gotten close to Quincy. He’s a great little pet,” Anderson said. “I’d hate to think about what would happen if we had to let him go.”