SOME PIG
BY GABRIELE HOLTERMANN
Ever since her trusty human
companion, FDNY
fi refi ghter Darren Harris,
brought her to Engine 239 earlier
this summer, Penny — an
adorable, three-month-old teacup
pig — has been raising the
spirits of Park Slope residents
and fi rst responders alike.
Harris, who works at the
fi rehouse on Fourth Avenue,
adopted the piglet from a farm
in Virginia because his young
daughter is afraid of dogs.
According to Harris,
Penny is like a dog and cat
combined — she loves cuddling
with his daughter, running
around with the family,
and she’s even potty-trained!
Most of the time, Penny
gets to frolic on vast, green
pastures in upstate New York,
where Harris lives. But when
dad goes to work in the “Big
City” twice each week, Penny
comes along for the ride.
“I knew she would be a
breath of fresh air at work and
home,” Harris told Brooklyn
Paper. “When I fi rst brought
her to work, all the guys immediately
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loved her and excepted
her as part of the
house. They Facetimed their
families showing our new addition.”
Ever since, the piglet has
put smiles on the faces of the
fi refi ghters, who have one of
the most stressful jobs in the
country.
“With our hectic jobs, it’s
nice to have someone we can
bond over, and she been a help
emotionally and raised spirits
around the fi rehouse,” said
Harris, who has been with the
FDNY for eight years.
Now, Penny is one of “the
guys” — she hangs out with
Harris and his crew in the
kitchen, enjoying belly rubs
or a quick chase through the
fi rehouse. When the engine
FDNY fi refi ghter Darren Harris and his teacup pig, ‘Fire Pig’ Penny. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
goes on a call, Penny is safely
tucked into her pet carrier
and waits in the house call
until the fi refi ghters return.
Sometimes, Harris said, she
comes along for a ride, depending
on the job.
“You don’t always get to
see a pig in Brooklyn,” said
Harris’ co-worker, Joe. “She
brings the community together.
Everybody gets to
come by, and the kids love
her. It brings a smile to everybody’s
face.”
And Penny clearly loves
the attention she receives
from the community.
“I couldn’t believe what I
was seeing,” said out-of-towner
Helen Edelman, who was wandering
through the neighborhood
Thursday morning, Aug.
26, when she spotted Penny.
She wondered if all FDNY stations
had pet pigs.
“It’s great,” said Edelman,
while feeding Penny her favorite
snack, Cheerios. “Everyone
loves pigs.”
Park Slope fi rehouse’s ‘fi re pig’
warms community’s heart
Immediately
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