It’s a tale of Disney proportions: “A Hound and Hog’s Big Adventure,” coming soon from a yard near you!  Over in Eagle Rock a strange companionship has developed. Bella, a young bloodhound has adopted a couple of baby pigs. Steven Reece and his family love the great outdoors, hunting, trapping  and animals. A pair of abandoned piglets came to the family this summer and the children have enjoyed playing with them. The children Peyton and Jacob, are rather fond of the pigs– a pink one named Babe and a little black  runt named Beethoven.

Bella the Bloodhound had just been spayed when the piggies arrived and  Reece thinks that may have been the reason she started mothering the pigs. Nephew Michael Reece said Bella and the piglets are something like a family.

A couple of weeks ago, Beethoven went missing and so did Bella. The family searched everywhere. ” My brother Sean and I must have walked 10 miles through the national forest looking for them; shouting their names and whistling.” The family sent out information to  that the pair was missing.  Everyone at the home place was worried. Fortunately, Bella has a tag on her collar.

Bella is a happy hound. She tried very hard to crawl into the window of the Botetourt View’s vehicle for a little love and attention and a happy greeting. No wonder she would attach herself to a friendly little piglet. It isn’t difficult to imagine the pig rooting around for food as Bella stood guard over him as they wandered.

Four days after the disappearance,  Steven who works in Roanoke, received a call from the Regional pound. “Are you missing a dog, they asked me? I said yes, a black and tan bloodhound.” On the other end came another question, ” Anything else? ” I laughed and said, ” A little black piglet.” He learned that Botetourt Animal Control had picked up the duo in Sugar Tree Hollow which is pretty good walk  away even as the crow flies and across Patterson Creek from where they live. Animal Control had delivered the pair to the regional pound.

He normally drives his  pick up truck to work, but that day he had his wife’s Honda. So after retrieving the  hound and hog, they came home in the car. Bella flopped in the  back floor board. “Bella would not let Beethoven down there with her! She was wore out!” Reece said with a laugh.

“I’d love to know what happened on their four day adventure. There are coyotes, bobcats, bear all through out these mountains.” said Reece as his children played with the piglet and dog. “I don’t know if something chased Beethoven after he got out of the pen, but no matter, Bella found him and stayed with him through the long hike and over a creek and down into a rural neighborhood. I know she was protecting him. We are lucky both survived.”

Indeed watching them play in the yard after Beethoven was removed from his pig pen for a photo op, they are still fast friends! And, Bella has forgiven him for her long walk!