Monday, March 8, 2010

  Oldest Pig - world record set by Oscar the Pig

 Far North Dallas, TX, USA -- Oscar, a 130-pound Vietnamese potbellied pig owned by Stacy Kimbell , who turned 20 years old in October 2009 - sets the new world record for the Oldest Pig .

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 His long life – in pig years – has included a Colorado ski vacation, a TV appearance with a pet psychologist, and his photo on one of those wacky Avanti animal birthday cards.   

  "The average pig lives 15 to 20 years, so we call Oscar in bonus rounds," said his owner, Stacy Kimbell of Far North Dallas, who believes having the 130-pound porker in her house feeds her rebellious side.

   Miniature pets were all the rage in 1989, when Kimbell bought Oscar as a piglet. Dogs and cats were out of the question because of her ex-husband's allergies, and the couple's fish were, well, fish.

   He topped out at an unhealthy 180 pounds before Kimbell got a better handle on his diet. These days his meals consist of roasted pumpkin mash, grapes, almonds, apples, watermelon and canned fruit. Dog treats are pretty tasty too, but his favorite snack is Southwest Airlines peanuts.

   "He's like a little disposal," said Kimbell, 47, who admits he's spoiled.

   Oscar, the world's Oldest Pig , won't eat broccoli, cauliflower or onions. He licks the salad dressing of those veggies and spits them out.

     The Oldest Pig in the world is very protective of Kimbell and has chased away more than his share of males, from friends to the pizza delivery guy. "They're very loyal creatures," she said.

     These days, Oscar leads a laid-back life. He has a house in Kimbell's backyard complete with a miniature swimming pool and an umbrella to protect him from the sun. At night, he comes inside and falls asleep in front of the television.

    The world's Oldest Pig gets a weekly bath with Suave shampoo and a rubdown with Skin So Soft lotion and udder cream. Occasionally Kimbell braids his tail. Once a year, she helps Oscar into the front seat of her Mercedes for a trip to the vet to get his toenails and tusks trimmed.

    Kimbell said Oscar is exceptionally smart. She's learned to decipher his low-pitched grunts, from "I'm looking for you" to "I'm grumpy." They've been through a lot over the years. "He's been my buddy," she said.

   Kimbell doesn't have any big plans for her record-holder. She turned down an invitation to Rome for a Guinness World Records TV show because Oscar's too old to travel.

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