This little piggy liked being a tripod.

Wilbur, a Tamworth pig, was 7 months old when he came to Harmony, an animal sanctuary in Botetourt County operated by the Roanoke nonprofit Angels of Assisi.

Steve George had worked at the New Castle farm where Wilbur lost one of his legs by getting caught in a fence. When George got a new job running Harmony, he brought the pig along.

When The Roanoke Times last wrote about Wilbur in April, the organization was working with Virginia Prosthetics to get him an artificial leg.

Wilbur, though, grew faster than the company could design a leg (pigs not being their typical customers, it took some time).

They fitted him with one model, but Wilbur had already adapted to getting around his pen without it, said prosthetist Sid Nicely. Wilbur took a few steps with the new leg, but squealed and tried to kick it off.

While he's learned how to get around with three legs, Wilbur faces other challenges - like getting out of the doghouse with the three potbellied pigs who share his pen. If Isabella, Jenny and Samuel think Wilbur is lying in a particularly lovely spot, they'll make him move with a snort.

When it's time to dine, Wilbur is not allowed to eat with the trio. Instead, he grabs a piece of food and retreats several feet to eat.

George reckons the other potbellies are jealous of his close relationship with Wilbur. But then, he believes, Wilbur deserves the extra attention.

"He's our special-needs pig," said George.

-- Beth Jones