When Birmingham officials began cracking down on crime in East Lake, they didn’t expect to be bringing home bacon.

Animal control workers who are part of the Safer Streets crackdown effort in East Lake captured a pig running loose on the streets Thursday.

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin posted a statistical update on the Safe Streets initiative today on social media that included this fact: since Monday, July 8, animal control has captured 10 cats, 8 dogs and one pig.

Wait. A pig?

“Animal control was out dealing with some calls, primarily dogs and cats,” said city spokesman Rick Journey.

“While they were out, at 76th Street and Division Avenue, a pig just darted out and kept running. You can’t have livestock in the city. So, Animal Control went to catch the pig. They caught the pig.”

The domestic pig weighed about 25 pounds, Journey said. It’s believed to be a mix of Potbelly and American Guinea Hog, he said.

“The pig was very swift,” Journey said.

“The pig has been taken to a person who does animal rescues. Within the seven days that they hold the pig, the owner can call animal control. They can have it back, they just can’t keep in the city. If in that seven days nobody comes and claims the pig, they have identified someone who wants to adopt the pig.”

The plan is for the pig to be adopted and end up in a caring home, Journey said. After its capture, the animal was given water and an apple and oat treat, he said.

The city’s Safe Streets: East Lake pilot project addresses public safety, code violations, illegal dumping and animal control.

On Tuesday, Woodfin told the Birmingham City Council that Shotspotter detected 2,164 shots fired during 2023 in the East Lake neighborhood. It’s part of a litany of crime issues in East Lake that have been out of control, he said.

Woodfin said the city has been cracking down on illegal dumping on Division Avenue, prostitution on First Avenue North, drug dealing and speeding on Second Avenue North.

Woodfin recently announced the Safe Streets Initiative, a pilot plan to shut down street access to limit drivers coming into the East Lake neighborhood to shoot at houses and cars.