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Besides watching television, Ellie Mae is more than eager to sit, shake a ‘hoof’ or play dead. Justine lafrate with Ellie Mae, the family's pot bellied pig, and her children Skyler, left and Peyton. Continued from page 13 manoeuvres, is her ability to open cupboards, ring bells when she wants outside and alert the house when Justine’s daughters are almost home from school. “Ellie Mae just knows when the bus is going to arrive. She starts to make this noise that sounds like a honk,” explains Justine with a laugh. “And then she runs to the window making this honking sound, it is so funny to watch.” The Iafrate family can attest that Ellie Mae is quite the comical pet. Her honking noise is just the beginning in a long line of hilarious stunts she manages to pull-off, much to her family’s delight. Justine recalls one particular incident when Ellie Mae managed to “intoxicate” herself with some leftover Christmas booze; proof that, just like farm pigs, pot bellies are curious creatures that like to “nose” around. “Friends of ours had brought over ‘Naughty and Nice’ shooters for a dinner party we were hosting. We put them in the liquor cabinet and, long story short, Ellie being the clever pig she is managed to pull open the cabinet door and engage in drunken festivity while we were away. As Justine recalls, Ellie was clever enough to know that she would never be able to EXOTIC ANIMALS Saturday August 22 - Starting at 6:00 p.m. ~ Barbecue ~ $6.00 Texas Burger & Pop, or Sausage & Pop $15. Adults ¢ $13. Seniors ¢ $11 Kids 12 & under ¢ 2 & under free NORTHWOOD ZOO 2192 Cookson Lane, Seagrave 905-985-2738 16 FOCUS - AUGUST 2009