A Queensland family is devastated after its miniature pet pig Delilah was shot dead by council officers after she strayed from their property.
Michelle Robinson said the pig, about the size of a large labrador dog, might have left her property in Doonan near Noosa on Thursday after a gate was left open.
RSPCA describe a miniature pig as being between 50kg and 90kg.
She said Noosa Council staff knew about the pet pig, had been supplied a photograph of her and officers had inspected both Delilah and the property earlier in the week.
Ms Robinson said her family was reeling from the death of their beloved pet pig.
''We're gutted. We're absolutely gutted," she said.
"We were absolutely a family that council and community work together.
My daughter is just devastated — this was her favourite pet on our property."
Agonising search
Ms Robinson said Delilah was brushed daily, and was often dressed up in a pink tutu, and occasionally had pink paint adorning her hooves.
She also wore a bright pink collar.
Ms Robinson said it was unbelievable that Delilah could be mistaken for a feral pig.
Noosa Council manager Phil Amson said officers did shoot "a 70-kilogram pig" from a distance on Thursday afternoon, believing it was feral.
Mr Amson said a landowner called council to report that a feral pig was damaging a chicken pen, and that a pig eradication program was already under way.
He said council officers had killed a wild boar near the same property earlier in the week.
Mr Amson said the owners of the pet pig were cautioned and told they needed to contain the animal after it escaped a few days before it was shot.
Ms Robinson said the family searched for Delilah on Thursday afternoon after they found she was not home.
She said they were in contact with the council, which did not confirm a pig had been shot, so the family continued to search for their pet through the weekend.
The family said they had approached the council for Delilah's remains, but had been told the council had disposed of them.
