When a Good Samaritan found a stray in Langley in late December last year, they alerted the Langley Animal Protection Society (LAPS).

But this wasnsa国际传媒檛 a dog or a cat that had been lost, it was a pot-bellied pig.

sa国际传媒淭hey had no idea where he had come from,sa国际传媒� said Jayne Nelson, executive director of LAPSsa国际传媒檚 Patti Dale Animal Shelter.

The pig was taken in, named Bebop sa国际传媒� after the punk warthog in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles sa国际传媒� and went through the normal process a lost animal experiences.

sa国际传媒淭he staff are always so creative when they are naming animals,sa国际传媒� Nelson noted. TV show characters are a common theme.

Nelson said Bebop has been neutered, and after his health checks, has spent most of his time being socialized for life as a pet.

He was not originally very comfortable around people, but after three months with LAPS, hesa国际传媒檚 getting better.

Staff have even been teaching him tricks as part of his socialization sa国际传媒� he can do head down, wait at doors, and touch items with his snout thanks to target training.

sa国际传媒淗esa国际传媒檒l spin on cue,sa国际传媒� Nelson said.

One trainer has started scent-training him to locate apples or lettuce in boxes. Pigs have an excellent sense of smell, and in Europe are used to locate truffles underground.

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Small pig breeds were originally reared as livestock, but in North America have been adopted as pets over the past few decades.

sa国际传媒淭hey certainly are very sweet, and can make good pets, for the right people,sa国际传媒� Nelson said.

They are more complicated to take care of than a dog or cat, she noted, and anyone considering adopting a pot-bellied pig should do their research in advance.

Nelson said one element thatsa国际传媒檚 very important is that most pigs seem to need another companion of their species, and can get aggressive if one isnsa国际传媒檛 present, so two pigs may be needed.

Right now, Bebop remains at LAPS, but his adoption has already been arranged. Hesa国际传媒檚 headed off to a rural home at the Happy Herd Farm Sanctuary.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e hoping hesa国际传媒檚 going to make friends with Garth,sa国际传媒� said Happy Herdsa国际传媒檚 Diane Marsh.

Garth is a pot-bellied/market pig cross the Happy Herd took in following an SPCA seizure of animals from a Maple Ridge property. The sanctuary was looking after Garthsa国际传媒檚 mom when she gave birth to piglets, and as the rejected runt of the litter, Garth got to stay.

Now Marsh is hoping he and Bebop can hang out together on the farm.