Little critters ham it up to bring home the bacon

The tour bus for the headliners of this weekend’s big show at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center rolled into town yesterday.

You won’t find this rig parked outside the Davenport Hotel like the luxury Prevosts of other internationally known performers.

No, these entertainers prefer more modest accommodations. Give them a simple crate lined with terry cloth towels and they are happy.

The stars of the third annual Animal Fair at the fairgrounds are the Valentines Performing Pigs, owned and trained by Steve and Priscilla Valentine of Gig Harbor, Wash.

When Priscilla Valentine, formerly Priscilla Landt, graduated from Spokane’s University High School in the late ‘60s, she never dreamed of becoming an animal trainer and entertainer.

“I wanted to be a writer or an English teacher,” she says. “But, I’ve loved pigs since I was a kid.”

About 20 years ago, the Valentines purchased their first miniature pot-bellied pig as a pet. Their second piglet was Nellie, and a star was born.

Nellie, the “World’s Smartest Pig,” is joined on stage by Snort, Petunia and Paris, a three-month-old who will be making her first professional appearance today. “They are all hams,” says Priscilla.

In more than 600 fast-paced shows, the stubby-legged porcine performers have dazzled crowds as they dance, dunk basketballs, pop balloons, roll barrels and rumble across the stage on scooters and skateboards.

The Valentines’ precocious swines have appeared on a number of television programs including the David Letterman Show, Real TV, Animal Planet, Today Show and Good Morning America.

“We’ve had hundreds of gigs from New York to California,” says Priscilla, “but for some strange reason we’ve never had one in Spokane. Now I get to tell everyone I know from my youth to come out and see us.”

‘Pig Mobile’

The talented and pampered porkers have traveled coast to coast in comfort in a modified 15-passenger 2004 Chevrolet van.

“They all love to travel,” says Priscilla. “What they do best in the van is sleep. You won’t hear an oink out of them when we are moving down the highway; you would never believe there are four pigs back there.”

The Valentines removed the 13 back seats from the van, put down carpet and installed storage for food, toys and four crates.

Each pig always travels in an individual crate.

“They are very short legged, short-bodied animals, sort of like cannon balls,” says Priscilla. “Pigs are not naturally agile or athletic animals and they can easily be injured if you suddenly step on the breaks and they go flying.”

The Valentines can be reached through www.valentinesperformingpigs.com or by calling (253) 853-HAMS (4267).

Animal Fair

“Responsible pet ownership is the most important thing we promote at the Animal Fair,” says organizer Susan Rae. “It is a great place for kids to find out what’s involved in owning a new pet.”

Pet lovers can find out about new products and veterinary care. There are entertaining events including animal tricks, a two-headed corn snake, winnie dog races and pony rides for kids.

The two-day Animal Fair opens today at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center at Havana and Broadway. Admission is $5; children 6 to 10 and pets are $2; 5-and-under are free. For more information visit the Web site at www.nwanimalfair.com.

Adoptable pets

It is estimated that about 80-percent of all RVers travel with at lease one pet companion. Because there are hundreds of great pets available for adoption in the Inland Northwest, twice a week pictures of adoptable pets are posted on the Wheel Life online page at: www.spokesmanreview.com/blogs/wheellife.

To date, all of the pets featured on Wheel Life have found new homes. To view available pets in other parts of the country go to www.petfinders.com.

“ Contact SCRAPS, (Spokane County Regional Animal Care and Protection Services) serves unincorporated areas of Spokane County. Reach them at 2521 N. Flora Rd., 477-2532, or go online to www.spokanecounty.org/animal.

“ Spokane Human Society, 6607 N. Havana St., 534-8133, www.spokanehumanesociety.org. Shelter hours are Monday through Friday from10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“ Contact SpokAnimal C.A.R.E. (companion animal relationship enrichment), Inland Northwest Humane Society, at 710 N. Napa St., 534-8133 or www.spokanimal.org. Shelter hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.