BY LORI DRAZ
snack on some of his favorite treats –
fruits and vegetables, especially tomatoes
and blueberries. Then he cuddles
up on the couch before hopping into
bed with his owners, usually around 7
pm. “When he was younger, he could
jump right into the bed but now he has
stairs that makes climbing in and out
of bed easier,” DeCaro said. “Hamlette
always has to be touching us. He’s a big
snuggler! Hamlette is an early riser,
usually greeting the day around 5 am,
somewhat patiently, for breakfast.
“We love having Hamlette. It’s kind
of like owning a dog. Pigs are extremely
intelligent and can be trained to do
tricks, walk on a harness/leash, go to the
bathroom outside or on pads. They’re social
animals with massive personalities!”
In addition to being a Beach
Sweeps co-captain, Hamlette loves to attend
each New Jersey VegFest. He also
loves walks at Island Beach State Park with his rescue Pitt siblings, Aurora
and Wyatt, as well as hiking in Bushkill Pennsylvania, participating in the
Toms River Halloween Parade and making new friends everywhere he goes.
Hamlette shows that all kinds of animals, including people, enjoy a
clean beach, ocean and environment.
To learn more about responsible pet ownership, check out Clean
Ocean Action’s 10 Tips for Dog Owners, Cat Owners, and other helpful tips
on the “Education Programs” page at CleanOceanAction.org. You are also
most welcome to join Hamlette, his owners and thousands of other volunteers
at Clean Ocean Action’s 36th annual Fall Beach Sweeps, Saturday,
Oct. 23, from 9 am to 12:30 pm. To register and learn more information,
visit CleanOceanAction.org.
TheJournalNJ.com | OCTOBER 2021 51
On Saturday, Oct. 23, thousands
of volunteers will
spend the morning at Clean
Ocean Action’s (COA) 36th annual
Fall Beach Sweeps. The volunteers
come in all ages, but there’s one
volunteer who is a real one-of-kind
– Hamlette. Hamlette is mini pig
who serves as a co-Beach Captain
with his owners Crystal DeCaro and
Ryan Carr. Volunteer after volunteer
squeals in delight when Hamlette
greets the sweepers, then hits the
beach in search of unsightly debris.
DeCaro explained, “At just 4
weeks old, Hamlette already had
a love for the place we call home,
the Jersey Shore. With his hooves
sinking in the sand and the salty air
against his mohawk, we knew he
was hooked on the beach as much as
place to get Hamlette socialized and
do something to help protect our home than the Clean Ocean Action
Beach Sweeps, for which ‘Mom’ has been a captain for a decade now?”
Hamlette is such an asset to the sweep. “Similar to a bulldozer
plowing trash, Hamlette uses that powerful snout of his to push up the
bigger pieces of debris hidden under the sand,” DeCaro said. “On rare
occasions, Hamlette even discovers buried treasure! Hamlette also
helps to spread awareness of the importance of cleaning our beaches!
His adorable spots, social demeanor and educational oinks can’t be
overlooked!”
Hamlette was born on Jan. 7, 2017. This 4-year-old now weighs
82 pounds and is similar in size to an English Bulldog.
When Hamlette is not protecting the environment, he likes to
Crystal DeCaro, Ryan Carr and Hamlette
,
Betsy O’Connor
Realtor® Associate
C: 917.680.3335 | O: 732.842.8100
Betsy.oconnor@sothebysrealty.com
heritagehousesothebysrealty.com
1 West River Road, Rumson
/CleanOceanAction.org
/CleanOceanAction.org
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