From the first reports of Waddles' injuries to his recovery, the protests, and the 2026 court case, his story has been covered by local television, newspapers, and national media.
This page collects independent news coverage about Waddles in one place. Links below take you to the original reporting. The summaries are brief descriptions for navigation and do not replace the full articles or broadcasts.
FOX 13 reported that Pinellas County Animal Services cited SPCA Tampa Bay after Waddles was found with burned and blistered skin. The story included interviews with rescuer Kelly Dill and SPCA leadership.
Read original coverage →Tampa Bay 28 detailed the animal-services citation, medical-record concerns, the pasture conditions, and the conflicting accounts over Waddles' access to shade and veterinary care.
Read original coverage →Bay News 9 followed Waddles' early recovery and reported both Kelly Dill's account of severe sunburn and SPCA Tampa Bay's position that he arrived with pre-existing medical issues.
Read original coverage →FOX 13 reported that SPCA Tampa Bay's payment of the animal-cruelty citation constituted a guilty plea at that stage of the case. The plea was later challenged and vacated.
Read original coverage →Tampa Bay 28 covered protesters gathering outside SPCA Tampa Bay after the earlier plea was vacated, with advocates calling for accountability and the SPCA disputing the cruelty allegations.
Read original coverage →The Tampa Bay Times covered the protest at the organization's fundraising pet walk and the continuing dispute over what happened to Waddles.
Read original coverage →FOX 13 revisited Waddles' rescue, recovery, the legal timeline, and both sides' arguments as the non-jury trial approached.
Read original coverage →The Tampa Bay Times published a major feature on Waddles, his recovery in Lithia, his former family, and the upcoming court proceeding.
Read original coverage →The Times' coverage of Waddles expanded beyond the courtroom with a children's drawing contest centered on the now well-known pig.
Read original coverage →PEOPLE brought Waddles' story to a national audience, covering the allegations, his former family, the legal stakes, and his recovery.
Read original coverage →The Tampa Bay Times examined what sanctions could mean for SPCA Tampa Bay as the Waddles case moved toward trial.
Read original coverage →FOX 13's post-trial report, syndicated by Yahoo, covered the judge's ruling in favor of SPCA Tampa Bay after the civil animal-cruelty citation.
Read original coverage →10 Tampa Bay's report, syndicated by Yahoo, covered the dismissal of the citation and the court's conclusion that the evidence did not establish failure to provide proper care.
Read original coverage →