Full Breakdown
Runaway West Hollywood Pig Finds Home with Grammy-Winning Songwriter Diane Warren
8/21/2026, 1:57:21 AM
Viral Video Sparks Adoption Frenzy
A black-and-white piglet, later nicknamed “Wilbur,” was captured on video running loose on a West Hollywood street near Laurel Avenue. The clip, filmed by an e-bike rider, quickly went viral, prompting neighborhood curiosity and a call for the animal’s owner to claim him. Shelter officials said the piglet weighed about 17 pounds and was roughly 11 weeks old. With no owner stepping forward, the West Los Angeles Animal Shelter prepared to place the animal up for adoption.
Shelter Process and Silent Auction
The shelter required prospective adopters to demonstrate suitable housing for a farm animal, noting Los Angeles zoning rules that limit pig ownership in residential settings. Four individuals attended the shelter on Thursday, leading officials to conduct a silent auction to select the new caretaker in a “fair and competitive” manner. The winning bid was made on behalf of Diane Warren by Marcia Zwilling, managing director of the Diane Warren Foundation.
Key Figures
- Diane Warren – Grammy-winning songwriter and animal-welfare advocate who operates a multi-acre sanctuary in Malibu.
- Marcia Zwilling – Managing director of the Diane Warren Foundation, acted as Warren’s representative at the auction.
- West Los Angeles Animal Shelter – Custodian of Wilbur after his capture and organizer of the adoption process.
Official Statements & Responses
Zwilling explained that Warren saw news clips of the pig’s escape and immediately asked her to secure the animal. Warren indicated the pig will join other rescued animals at her Malibu sanctuary, where he will receive “gourmet salads every day” and ample acreage. The foundation also noted that this is not Warren’s first rescue; in 2021 she helped relocate a runaway cow from a Pico Rivera slaughterhouse to a sanctuary.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Diane saw the news clips and saw the little pig running in West Hollywood and she just called me and said, 'Please get the pig, get the pig!',” — Marcia Zwilling, managing director of the Diane Warren Foundation
- “I lost Oscars, but I won a pig, it's awesome,” — Diane Warren, rivera city manager
- “Probably not. But would love to have a pig in the neighborhood.” — Linda Mangini, said resident
- “I lose Oscars but I won a pig... it's fun. It's fun,” — Diane Warren, rivera city manager
