A litter of piglets saved from a burning barn were served up on a barbecue just months later by the firefighters who rescued them.
The litter of 18, and two sows, were saved from the blaze at a farm in Milton Lilbourne, Wiltshire, in February, when 60 tonnes of hay caught fire.
However, their stay of execution would not last long, with farmer Rachel Rivers turning them into sausages as a thank-you treat to the crews who tackled the fire.
These piglets were served up on a barbecue just months later by the firefighters who rescued them from a barn fire
Crews from Pewsey fire team said the bangers were ‘fantastic’. Left, the barn fire and right, a firefighter cooks the sausages
Ms Rivers said she was ‘sure vegetarians will hate’ her cut-throat decision to slaughter the piglets, who were reared to be sold as meat.
But she explained the firefighters from Pewsey fire service, described the sausages as ‘fantastic’.
She told said: ‘This was just a token gesture to the fire service. They were over the moon with them.
‘This is just what we do – we are not an animal sanctuary. We give the pigs the best opportunity and the best life they could have for six months.
‘They won’t be kept inside, they are outdoors and fed with organic food which is grown on the farm.’
On the Pewsey Fire station Facebook page, firefighters wrote: ‘Exactly six months and one day since FF’s Olsen and Richardson rescued 18 piglets from a farm in Milton.
The litter of 18, and two sows, were saved from this blaze at a farm in Milton Lilbourne, Wiltshire, in February, when 60 tonnes of hay caught fire
Ms Rivers said vegetarians would ‘hate’ her decision to slaughter the pigs (pictured) just months after they were rescued
‘We got to sample the fruits of our labour from that February night. Huge thank you to Rachel Rivers for dropping them off for us to sample.
‘Highly recommended by Pewsey Fire station’s crew and if any of our followers are having a bank holiday BBQ this weekend then check out these sausages.’
A spokesman for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service added: ‘Our thanks to the farmer for her generosity. We can tell no porkies, the sausages were fantastic.’
However, not all were impressed with the gesture and animal lovers slammed Ms Rivers for the move.
Farrell Monaco wrote: ‘What a dreadful story. Lovely that they saved the pigs but why publish their demise? Grim.’
Disgusted animal lovers have slammed Ms Rivers for her ‘horrible’ move on social media. Pictured, the piglets in their barn
Pearl-Lucia Sayer wrote: ‘Jesus, could she not just say thanks! What’s wrong with a box of Roses? What a horrible story to start the day.’
However, others said it was just the nature of the farming world.
Matthew Thomas Crisafi said: ‘Horrible. But normal. Pigs die everyday make bacon and sausages.
‘The firefighters were only rescuing stock not lives. I wonder how many of y’all are vegetarian.
‘Why is an animal cute and cuddly until it’s on your plate as mince? Odd.’