Oregon Farmer Eaten by Pigs

When Terry Vance Garner failed to return from feeding his pigs last Wednesday, a family member who went to check on him made a horrifying discovery: what appeared to be Garner’s remains, including his dentures, strewn throughout the hog pen, according to a report in the Eugene, Ore., Register-Guard.

Authorities believe the 700-lb. pigs may have knocked the 69-year-old farmer down, or that Garner could have experienced a heart attack and collapsed. A pathologist was unable to determine the cause of death after examining Garner’s remains, so a forensic anthropologist at the University of Oregon will investigate further.

“For all we know, it was a horrific accident, but it’s so doggone weird that we have to look at all possibilities,” Coos County District Attorney Paul Frasier told the Register-Guard.

Garner, a Vietnam War veteran, suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, and his older brother Michael, 75, told the Register-Guard that the farm — located just outside the town of Bandon, Ore., near the Pacific coast — was a “real life-saver.” Garner raised hogs to sell the piglets to local children.

Michael Garner said a hog bit his brother last year after he unintentionally stepped on a piglet. “He said he was going to kill it, but when I asked him about it later, he said he had changed his mind,” Michael Garner said.

John Killefer, director of the Animal and Rangeland Sciences Department at Oregon State University in Corvallis, told the Register-Guard that domesticated pigs are less aggressive than their feral relatives, but attacks have occurred in the past. In 2006, the Telegraph reported, a boar pinned a man against a tractor in England, gnawing his left arm, back and legs.

Killefer said although the incident was unusual, there are risks involved in interacting with any animal and that hogs “are more omnivorous than other farm animals, [such as] cows.”

Suzi wrote:Oh please tell me you don't really believe that?

Alan Smithee wrote: At least he wasn't keeping silver back gorillas!

Nystyle709 wrote:

Regardless if I believe it or not (which I don't technically), it's no secret that the pig is a nasty animal. They will eat their own feces and since they don't sweat, that bacteria and toxins stay in the meat. And since 90% of the bacon, ham and whatever else you get from the grocery comes from pigs that were housed in God awful conditions, that's even more reason not to eat it. And NOTHING about the pig is healthy for you. They are loaded with cholesterol and fat and have more fat than any other meat, including beef. At least chicken and turkey and fish are lean meats and they have protein. Pigs are bottom feeders. But you enjoy.

Nystyle709 wrote:

Regardless if I believe it or not (which I don't technically), it's no secret that the pig is a nasty animal. They will eat their own feces and since they don't sweat, that bacteria and toxins stay in the meat. And since 90% of the bacon, ham and whatever else you get from the grocery comes from pigs that were housed in God awful conditions, that's even more reason not to eat it. And NOTHING about the pig is healthy for you. They are loaded with cholesterol and fat and have more fat than any other meat, including beef. At least chicken and turkey and fish are lean meats and they have protein. Pigs are bottom feeders. But you enjoy.

Nystyle709 wrote:

Regardless if I believe it or not (which I don't technically), it's no secret that the pig is a nasty animal. They will eat their own feces and since they don't sweat, that bacteria and toxins stay in the meat. And since 90% of the bacon, ham and whatever else you get from the grocery comes from pigs that were housed in God awful conditions, that's even more reason not to eat it. And NOTHING about the pig is healthy for you. They are loaded with cholesterol and fat and have more fat than any other meat, including beef. At least chicken and turkey and fish are lean meats and they have protein. Pigs are bottom feeders. But you enjoy.

Suzi wrote:
Actually chickens are the dirtiest, they will eat their own shit and and wallow in the same.

That's a pig.

Dogs delight in eating cat poop, they don't sweat either.

And just who in the hell eats dog? Do you? LOL.

Given the space a pig is a very clean animal.They will use one corner of a pen as a bathroom and another for their mud wallow. The mud wallow is important because they sunburn.

Suzi wrote:Sorry but do a little research, chickens are filthy and they have mites. Man if you ever cleaned a chicken coop you would understand just how horrible they are. They make no effort to arrange a clean spot for themselves they even crap on their own eggs. They aren't all clean and tidy like you get from the store. They do make nice pets. They will come when you call as will a pig then the pig is a hell of a lot smarter than a chicken too.

Tony Marino wrote:Any Pics??