Diane Warren Adopts West Hollywood’s Runaway Pig: ‘Welcome Wilbur!’

In a scene straight out of a slapstick comedy, the streets of West Hollywood became an impromptu racetrack over the weekend when a tiny piglet went on the lam, weaving through traffic and dodging bewildered pedestrians. A viral video captured the chaos, with a man named Jamaal Harrison chasing the diminutive escapee while shouting, “There’s a pig in West Hollywood!” and pleading, “We gotta catch the pig. … Come back pig!” The pursuit, which could have ended in disaster, concluded without injury, and the piglet was promptly christened Wilbur—a heartfelt tribute to the beloved character from E.B. White’s classic children’s novel “Charlotte’s Web.”

In the days that followed, Wilbur found temporary refuge at the West L.A. Animal Services Shelter, where staff held out hope that an owner might step forward to claim him. When no one did, the shelter pivoted to a silent auction on Thursday to secure his forever home. The winning bid came from Marcia Zwilling, managing director of the Diane Warren Foundation, acting on behalf of the Oscar-nominated songwriter herself. Warren, a prolific hitmaker whose credits include power ballads like “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” and the haunting “Til It Happens to You,” told Variety that she felt an immediate pull to act after friends inundated her phone with clips of the pig’s escapade. “I called my friend Marcia Zwilling who runs my Animal Foundation. We agreed that we gotta save this pig!” she said. Warren also reflected on a prior rescue mission, recalling how she and animal activist Simone Reyes saved a cow affectionately known as “Free the Cow” five years earlier. “Marcia went this morning to the shelter where they were auctioning the pig and as Marcia said, ‘Whatever it takes we gotta get this pig and give him a safe, wonderful home.’ So BY ANY MEANS we did! Wilbur is the cutest little thing and he’s a celebrity now! We are all in love with him. Animals are precious sentient creatures. Welcome Wilbur!!!” she wrote in an email. The songwriter’s dedication to animal welfare is well-documented, and this latest intervention underscores a pattern of using her platform to champion creatures in need.

At just 11 weeks old, Wilbur is currently small enough to curl up in a person’s lap, but that idyllic image won’t last. Agnes Sibal-von Debschitz, a public information officer for Animal Services, cautioned that adult pigs of Wilbur’s breed can tip the scales anywhere from 50 to 125 pounds. “You have to make sure you have enough space where you’re housing the pig, and then there are zoning and setback requirements,” she explained to KTLA News, highlighting the often-overlooked realities of pig ownership. This is a common pitfall for prospective pet owners, as many are drawn to the adorable piglets without accounting for their substantial growth. Fortunately, Wilbur’s trajectory is far more glamorous than a typical barnyard existence. Zwilling assured reporters that he’s bound for a sprawling ranch where he’ll have acres to roam and a diet that would make a food critic swoon. “He’s going to have a fabulous home on a ranch with gourmet salads every day,” she told KTLA.

The tale has resonated with animal lovers far beyond Los Angeles, serving as a poignant reminder of the impulsive nature of pet adoption and the critical work of rescue organizations. Wilbur’s predicament is far from unique—pigs are routinely surrendered to shelters when owners underestimate their size and space requirements, a trend that animal advocates have long sought to address through education and outreach. Yet his Hollywood ending, complete with a famous benefactor and promises of gourmet dining, has elevated him to the status of an unlikely local legend. As Warren’s foundation continues its advocacy, Wilbur’s story adds another memorable chapter to a legacy of compassion that the songwriter has cultivated for years. In an era where viral moments often fade into obscurity, Wilbur’s saga endures as a testament to the unexpected bonds forged in chaos and the enduring power of kindness.