Draft:Lulu (pig)
 | Draft article not currently submitted for review.
This is a draft Articles for creation (AfC) submission. It is not currently pending review. While there are no deadlines, abandoned drafts may be deleted after six months. To edit the draft click on the "Edit" tab at the top of the window. To be accepted, a draft should:
It is strongly discouraged to write about yourself, your business or employer. If you do so, you must declare it. Where to get help
How to improve a draft
You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Editor resources
Last edited by SaltySemanticSchmuck (talk | contribs) 2 seconds ago. (Update) |
Lulu was a pot-bellied pig that gained national attention in 1998 after demonstrably helping to save the life of her caretaker, Jo Ann Altsman, during a medical emergency in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. According to widely circulated reports, Lulu’s actions, such as squeezing through a dog door and lying in the road, may have helped emergency services reach Altsman, who was experiencing a heart attack. Although the pig’s specific intentions cannot be definitively determined, the sequence of events as documented by multiple sources resulted in timely medical intervention, which potentially saved Altsman’s life.
The incident has prompted broader discussions about intelligence, animal welfare, ethical considerations surrounding pork consumption and production, and the treatment of farmed animals in the ongoing debate about animal rights.
Reported incident
[edit]On August 4, 1998, Jo Ann Altsman suffered a heart attack at her Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania home, accompanied only by her 2 companion animals: Lulu and the family dog, Bear. Witnesses and news reports describe Lulu forcing her way through the dog door, reportedly injuring herself in the process. Several witnesses recount the pig lying in the middle of Route 976. When motorist Perry DeVece stopped, Lulu allegedly rose and moved toward the Altsman residence. DeVece followed the pig and discovered Altsman in medical distress. He immediately called emergency services, who arrived in time to administer life-saving care. Medical professionals later confirmed that without prompt intervention, Altsman’s condition could have been fatal.
Lulu had been a member of the Altsman family for several years and was noted for her strong emotional attachment to family members. The pig was well-trained and responsive to basic commands. Experts in animal behavior highlight that pigs are highly intelligent, capable of problem-solving and emotional bonding. It is argued, however, by some that attributing specific human-like reasoning to their actions continues to require careful consideration, as animal behavior can be complex and influenced by various instinctive and contextual factors. Nevertheless, the case serves as a compelling example of apparent purposeful behavior in animals.
Significance
[edit]The incident received widespread media coverage, including reports by major outlets such as the Associated Press. Lulu was awarded the Tiffany gold medal by the Grateful American Society, an honor typically reserved for dogs.
The event also spurred public interest in porcine cognition and behavior. Pigs are increasingly recognized for their remarkable cognitive abilities, including self-awareness demonstrated through mirror recognition tests, social learning, and problem-solving skills comparable to those of primates. While the reported case remains anecdotal, it has raised significant questions about the emotional and cognitive capacities of animals commonly regarded as livestock.
Lulu’s story continues to inspire discussions about animal welfare, the ethics of factory farming, and the rights of farmed animals. Her actions are often cited as an example of the need to reconsider how society values and interacts with non-human animals.