British Firefighters feel heat after BBQing piglets they saved from blaze

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Firefighters in the UK have apologized after posting pictures on Facebook barbecuing sausages made from piglets they saved from a blaze a few months earlier.

The firefighters tackled in February a barn fire in southwest England’s Wiltshire County saving a litter of 18 piglets and two sows. The farm manager, Rachel Rivers, promised them with a special gift as a thank you gesture for their efforts.

Photo via Pewsey Fire Station

Six months on, the public servants received a delivery of sausages, which turned out to be made from the swine they rescued earlier this year. The pigs are reared for meat, and they were slaughtered and turned into sausages before being sent to the firefighters at the Pewsey Fire Station on Monday.

Screenshot of a post published on Pewsey Fire Station Facebook account

The firefighters described the sausages as "fantastic" and “highly recommended" them in posts on Facebook. But they soon felt the heat as their photos were met with anger online.

Animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) said the pigs were "no better off" for having escaped the fire.

Screenshot of a post published on Pewsey Fire Station Facebook account

Following the backlash, the firefighting team posted an apology and removed the controversial post on Wednesday.

The issue has caused division among netizens. Some expressed distaste, like @JulieHatton who said: “it is not the insults against vegans, but the sadistic ridicule of another living being's suffering that's truly disturbing.” Meanwhile, others supported the firefighters, noting that they didn’t do anything wrong by enjoying the meat served up to them.