“The dog ate my homework” may be a classic excuse, but a schoolgirl in the United States now has a far more unusual — and well-documented — reason for missing assignments after her pet pig was caught destroying her schoolwork.
A video shared on Instagram has clocked over 1.5 million views, showing Polly, a family mini pig, rummaging through young Taylee’s backpack and enthusiastically tearing apart her homework.
Caught in the act
The clip was posted by Taylee’s family from Phoenix, Arizona, and quickly drew amused disbelief from viewers. Taylee’s mother, Jacey Tinsley, told Newsweek that the family was left stunned when they walked in on the scene.
“All three of us just froze,” Tinsley said. “My daughter’s jaw dropped — it was like her brain couldn’t process what she was seeing. Polly, meanwhile, trotted over proudly, tail wagging, like she’d done something important.”
Moments earlier, the family had been quietly watching a movie together. Tinsley recalled that Polly appeared to be waiting for the perfect opportunity. “The second my daughter left the room, Polly popped up, pulled the backpack down and went straight through it.”
No evidence left behind
According to Tinsley, Polly did not merely nibble the pages. “She committed,” she said. “Some sheets were shredded, others were fully eaten. No evidence left behind.”
The incident highlighted a lesser-known fact about mini pigs — their intelligence. “Pigs are among the smartest animals on the planet,” Tinsley explained. “Polly is basically a toddler in a pig’s body. Curious, clever and always one step ahead.”
Internet reacts with laughter
The family shared the video to show the chaos of life with a mini pig. Online reactions poured in, with parents jokingly calling Polly a “hero” and others expressing disbelief at the pig’s sneakiness. Many users shared similar stories of pets destroying homework — though few involved pigs.
For Taylee, it may not have saved her assignment, but it did give her one of the most original excuses a teacher is likely to hear: the pig really did eat her homework.