Stolen Show Pigs Found After 48-Hour Search in Denver
A truck and trailer with two show pigs has been found Tuesday morning after they were stolen sometime between 8 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. Sunday from a hotel parking lot in Denver, Colo.
Myles Lee of Quincy, Wash., made the 24-hour drive out to the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) with his parents John and Tanya and his brother Blaine to show his Duroc barrow, Doug, and his Spot barrow, Roger, in one of the country’s most prestigious pig shows.
The Denver Police Department found the pigs, white and tan 2000 Ford F-350 and 2003 Exiss stock trailer on Tuesday about 10 minutes north of the Comfort Inn and Suites on Tower Road from where they were stolen.
“We’re speechless and overwhelmed with joy and happiness that we have the truck and trailer back, but especially the pigs,” Myles says.
As soon as the family got the call around 4 a.m., they rushed straight there.
“The police said our pickup, an older Ford, is a hot commodity because of the engine,” Blaine says. “It’s also easier to steal. Police have seen thieves steal a truck like ours in under 30 seconds.”
The family’s greatest concern during this time has been the well-being and safety of their pigs.
“The pigs are doing ok. Of course, they are dehydrated and hungry because they’ve had no food or water for 52 hours. But thankfully, they drank and wanted to eat right away,” Blaine says.
Blaine says the Denver police department and the NWSS staff have been extremely helpful to his family during this difficult experience. As soon as the pigs were found, Blaine called the NWSS staff.
“They are going to still let us show in the show on Wednesday,” Blaine says. “The response has been amazing and overwhelming.”
Shocking Discovery
After the long drive out to Denver, the Lee family checked into their hotel after bedding down their pigs for the night. The next morning – Myles’ 15th birthday – they walked out to find no truck or trailer.
“The first thing that popped in my mind was like, ‘Oh, maybe it got towed?’ But once we realized that it had been stolen, I had zero words. I still have zero words! It’s an unimaginable feeling to have stolen livestock,” Blaine says.
Blaine showed pigs in Denver in 2016 and made the sale of champions. Myles showed the following year, but the Lee family hadn’t made it back to Denver until this year.
"Our boys put in a lot of hard work, and they spend a lot of hours with their animals, and you really create a bond with those animals," mom Tanya Lee said in a 9News article on Sunday. "And in order to be able to show competitively at this level of the National Western Stock Show, you have to really create a bond with those animals, and those animals depend upon you a lot. And you depend upon them."
Overwhelming Support
The Lee family travels all across the country showing pigs from Arizona to Iowa and more.
“The NWSS is our all-time favorite major to show at just because it’s a different atmosphere than other majors,” Blaine says.
The swine industry response has been one that the Lee family will never forget.
“We’re such a tight-knit community and we care for each other so much,” Blaine says.
Growing Problem
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first incident of a truck and trailer being stolen from a livestock show or the NWSS this year. Blaine’s Facebook feed was filled with supporters from all over the country and other show families outraged by the increasing problem of stolen trucks from livestock shows.
Travis Platt, an Indiana pig farmer and owner of Platt Showpigs and Upper Hand Genetics boar stud, says his truck was stolen during the American Royal Livestock Show in Kansas City, Mo., last October.
"It wasn't a great experience getting a truck stolen, but it was unreal the amount of people who asked us how they could help. It was a great feeling to know we had support," Platt says.
Their truck was found six weeks later and was totaled.
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