Rahway Firefighters Answer Unusual Call
A 200-pound pig, a hoof infection, and four firefighters made for one viral rescue story.
October 24, 2025
When Donna Dunaway’s beloved pet pig Bubblicious woke up Monday morning, refusing breakfast and shuffling around on her knees, Dunaway knew something was seriously wrong.
“That’s not like her,” Dunaway told The Central Jerseyan.
Bubblicious, an 8-year-old, 200-pound sow, has been part of the Dunaway family since she was just a few weeks old.
“She’s an indoor pig,” Dunaway said. “She does like to lay out on the deck when the weather is nice.”
After calling the vet, Dunaway learned she’d need to bring Bubblicious in for an exam. That’s when the real problem began.
“It’s hard enough to get her into the car when she can walk,” Dunaway said.
Having a pig is like having another child, she explained. They have the intelligence and sometimes the temperament of a toddler. And there was no way Dunaway could carry her ailing pet to the car alone.
She called the Rahway Police Department first, but they couldn’t assist due to insurance concerns about potential officer injuries. Next, she tried the fire department. Initially, things didn’t look promising
Most firefighters on duty were responding to a fire in a neighboring town.
But the person she spoke with promised to see what he could do. Minutes later, her phone rang. A crew from another firehouse was on the way.
“I was excited because I was feeling so stressed about how I was going to get her into the car,” Dunaway said.
The rescue went smoothly. Dunaway captured video of four firefighters carefully carrying Bubblicious in a blanket and gently loading her into the back of Dunaway’s hatchback. The heartwarming footage quickly went viral on Facebook.
Caption. (Source)
After the rescue, one of the firefighters even asked for a photo with Bubblicious.
The diagnosis? A hoof infection. Bubblicious is now home, resting comfortably and recovering on antibiotics.
“She’s gonna be okay,” Dunaway said.
Dunaway and her husband want to send a thank you gift to the crew, but don’t know which firehouse they belong to.
“We’re very grateful that they were able to help us,” she said.
The Central Jerseyan is determined to make sure these heroes get the recognition they deserve. The crew is on leave after serving a 24-hour shift. Check back soon for more on this.