PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Pinellas County Animal Services has issued SPCA Tampa Bay a citation for animal cruelty based on alleged treatment of a pig for two weeks this past July.

According to the citation, obtained by News Channel 8, “Defendant (SPCA Tampa Bay) had custody of “Waddles,” a white and grey pig, and failed to ensure animal had access to necessary shelter which resulted in severe injury to skin.”

“For the 14 or so days that he was with us, our staff was checking on him every day,” said SPCA Tampa Bay president and CEO Martha Boden. “They were making sure that he was eating well. They were doing their best to make sure he wasn’t in pain because he had saw some limping and we provided him, I think, wonderful support.”

Boden said Waddles had come into the shelter with health deficiencies such as skin issues, abnormal eating, overgrown hooves and an issue with a tusk.

“He was going to have a long-term recovery path, and we knew that was going to be something that would take time, so, we were really excited to find some partners in the community who were interested in the care and carrying on his work, and we’re pleased to see that his recoveries continue.”

Connie Laurie of Hillsborough County reached out to her friend Kelly Dill, founder of mini-pig rescue non-profit, Pork Butt Pastures Inc. about Waddles and his current state.

“I just wanted to get eyes on him to see what was necessary for transport, but when I saw him, that’s when the game changed,” Dill said. “That’s when we knew we had to get him right there.”

Boden showed News Channel 8 media crews where Waddles had been staying while he was under the shelters care.

Multiple mud wallows both in and out of the shade were shown along with a barn area of where Waddles was allowed into when he so pleased.

However, citation records noted, “There was no shade in the pasture, man-made or natural, other than the pen.”

Medical records were also reviewed according to citation records, one of which pointing to sunburn:

In the medical record, on July 16 there is a note made stating he was limping, not eating and appeared to be sunburnt. In the same note it states a vet exam will be scheduled to get a proper dose for pain meds. There was no veterinary exam done on “Waddles” that was recorded after that note, pain meds and additional feeding alerts were started on July 17, but no other care mentioned for possible sunburn. When brought up, Martha stated they didn’t want to jump right to medication and made sure he was able to get into mud to keep himself covered.

“There was no other reason for Waddles to look the way he did,” Laurie said. “If Martha had provided everything already for him, he should not have been sunburned if he had shade. That’s all there is, it’s so simple.”

Boden told News Channel 8, the shelter is in disagreement with the allegations made in the citation and have sought legal counsel.

“There were allegations in it that we strongly disagree with,” Boden said. “He had access to a barn. He had, access to shade all throughout his pasture. So, if he didn’t want to go in the barn, he had shade all around the space and the shaded space all had mud.”

Dill took to TikTok and posted a video of Waddles’ physical state upon picking him up from the shelter:

SPCA Tampa Bay showed News Channel 8 a video of Waddles eating just days prior to Dill picking him up:

“Hopefully when, you know, everybody calms down a little bit, we can have a much more constructive conversation,” Boden said. “I understand the passion that people feel about animals, that’s what brings a lot of my team here, but when it goes off in this direction, when it turns into attacks, when it turns into nastiness, that doesn’t help.”

Boden said she her team has had to hire security personnel on site due to her staff receiving death threats on this matter as it has spread throughout social media.