Grammy-Winning Songwriter Diane Warren Adopts Viral West Hollywood Runaway Pig

Grammy-Winning Songwriter Diane Warren Secures Forever Home for Viral Runaway Pig Wilbur

Grammy-winning songwriter Diane Warren has officially adopted Wilbur, the black-and-white piglet whose escape through the streets of West Hollywood captured attention. Following a weekend dash near Laurel Avenue and a brief stay at the West L.A. Animal Shelter, the runaway piglet found himself at the center of an unexpected adoption auction before securing a home at a seven-acre Malibu sanctuary.

From Asphalt Escapade to Animal Shelter Stardom

The viral saga began on Saturday, August 15, when the piglet was spotted scrambling down Hayworth Avenue, sparking a neighborhood pursuit. Bystanders, including Jamaal Harrison, captured the chase on video as residents yelled, “There’s a pig in West Hollywood!” According to reports from the New York Post, local authorities eventually corralled the animal and transferred him into the custody of LA Animal Services.

Photo: nypost.com

When no owner stepped forward to claim the piglet, public interest grew. On Thursday morning, four prospective adopters arrived at the shelter hoping to take the animal home. To ensure fairness without favoritism, shelter officials organized a competitive silent auction.

The Winning Bid and the Malibu Sanctuary Life

Marcia Zwilling, managing director of the Diane Warren Foundation, placed the winning bid on behalf of the songwriter. According to coverage by KABC, Warren watched the news clips of the pig’s urban sprint and immediately reached out: “Diane saw the news clips and saw the little pig running in West Hollywood and she just called me and said, ‘Please get the pig, get the pig!'”

Photo: abc7.com

Wilbur’s post-rescue lifestyle is a far cry from the concrete jungle of West Hollywood. The piglet is now settling into a seven-acre animal sanctuary in Malibu, where he will roam open acreage, socialize with other animals, and enjoy a diet consisting of gourmet salads every day, as confirmed by Zwilling.

A Familiar Rescue Echoes Past Advocacy

For Warren, an animal advocate, stepping in to rescue wandering livestock is a familiar rhythm. In 2021, the Oscar-nominated musician helped orchestrate the relocation of a runaway cow that escaped a slaughterhouse in Pico Rivera alongside a group of roughly 40 cattle, ultimately securing its safe transfer to Farm Sanctuary in Acton.

Meeting her newest family member for the first time on Thursday, Warren embraced the moment. Reflecting on her Academy Award nominations alongside her latest rescue, Warren quipped, “I lose Oscars but I won a pig… it’s fun. It’s fun.” Because the songwriter already cares for another pig named Wilbur at her sanctuary, she is currently weighing a name change for the newest addition, suggesting that “Hollywood” might serve as a fitting tribute to his origins.