A large pot-bellied pig that was allowed to roam a Mississippi town and at times forced traffic to shut down as police escorted the pig across the street has been relocated to a new home in the country.

The pig is 10 years old or older, according to Brookhaven Animal Control officer Sharon Norton, and has “a little bit of arthritis.”

Norton said officers have had to respond to calls involving the animal. Police officers have had to keep traffic at bay as they ushered the pig out of the roadway, including at least once on Hwy. 51.

Monday, she was seen walking around Field Lark Lane. Norton put out a call on Facebook for anyone who was interested — and who specialized in handling pigs — to come take possession of the animal. Later, she posted the pig had returned to its home.

“Animal Control is tired of dealing with it and the owner of the pig does not want it,” Norton posted. “We simply do not know what else to do with this animal, it is too big for us to handle.”

During Tuesday evening’s City Board meeting, Alderman-at-large Don Underwood said that while it was somewhat humorous that police had to escort a pig across the highway, something had to be done with the pet because officers could not spend their time dealing with it, and pigs can sometimes be aggressive.

“What if it were approached by a child who wanted to pet it? Or an elderly person?” he asked.

“It’s been taken care of,” said Emergency Management Director Chris Reid. Someone had taken possession of the pig, and “it’s being taken to the county.”