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Family Hopes Ad Will Generate Leads In Piglet Abuse Case

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By RAY REYES | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 23, 2007

PLANT CITY - With no new leads and no break in the case, the owners of two slain and mutilated baby pigs decided to turn up the heat by placing a half-page newspaper advertisement.

The ad, which declares "$3,000 Reward" in bold letters across the top, ran in the Plant City Courier & Tribune on Nov. 21, exactly one month after media reports were first published about the slayings of piglets Rebel and Dixie. A photo of the baby pigs ran with the ad.

"We want to get someone's attention," said Jamie Farkas, mother of the piglets' owners, twin 13-year-olds Lindsey and Leann Farkas.

The sisters went to feed the 6- to 8-week-old pigs about 9:30 a.m. Oct. 20 when they discovered that someone had broken into their locked pen overnight and killed the small animals. The pigs appeared to have been stabbed and mutilated, police said.

Lindsey and Leann were raising the pigs for the 2008 Florida Strawberry Festival, Farkas said.

Shortly after hearing about Rebel and Dixie, the Humane Society of the United States offered a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in killing and mutilating the animals. The family collected $500 from friends and neighbors to bring the reward up to $3,000, Farkas said.

The family expects to run the ad, which cost $192.50, at least one more time before the end of the year, Farkas said.

Plant City police Sgt. Jim Watkins, who began the investigation last month, said it is uncommon for people or families to run large ads in local newspapers announcing rewards—especially in cases involving animals.

"That ought to get someone's attention," Watkins said.

Anyone with information on the case can call the Plant City Police Department at (813) 757-9200.

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