Off on a vet run again today in -34C

I cannot tell you how bad I wish the vets around here would start working with pot bellied pigs!!! I have spent SO much time (and money) in the van with my Tucker over the last few years taking him to vets in other places because no one here knows enough about them to be willing to work on them. This is why I get so angry when people post untrue things on Kijiji, like saying "any farm vet will deal with PBP." It's just not true and people need to be aware of that before deciding to get a pig because it's a huge pain in the butt and a big expense that they need to be prepared for.

 Today, we need to have his tusk trimmed. It is close to poking through his cheek if we leave it any longer. I've never gone through this proceedure before, so I am a little bit nervous and glad Scott is home to come with me. I cry when I see people hurt my pigs, so I like to be able to stay out of the room and be the nice mommy (with a pocket full of treats) he can run to when the bad people are finished being mean! Why, of all of my pigs, is Tucker the one with the wonky tusk? Hasn't the poor guy had to endure enough over his life? The vet wants to try to do it without putting him under, but I am kind of hoping he does. Whatever a "nose snair" is (which is what he wanted to use) it does not sound like something Tucker will appreciate. I'd like him to sleep through it and wake up when it's done. I am hoping to have his hooves trimmed if he's under too. He hates that task as well! This is a new vet and I am hoping he might also have some insight into Tucker's chronic acne.

Wish us luck...

UPDATE: All went well. He didn't have to be put under...I was really surprised. Tucker wasn't happy, but didn't require the nose snair (man, that sounds terrible!) It didn't take long...he didn't even have to get out of the van...and I don't think it caused him any pain. Didn't get the hooves done, if he's awake anyways, we'll just do them here. We ALL hate that job. I feel better now that it's over...but I already miss his handsome tusks!

Good news for Tucker!!!

I think we FINALLY found a medication that works for his chronic runny nose! He's been on Draxxin for a couple of months now and it seems to be working. I am so happy!! He seems to feel much better and his nose doesn't run at all anymore. He's been needing a shot about every 2 weeks...which is what the vet was expecting...but it's been 3 weeks since the last one and he's still ok. I am taking that as a good sign, as at the end of the 2 weeks before (to the day), it would start running again. I have an ongoing prescription, but hopefully I won't need it. This is an answer to prayer. My poor Tucker has been suffering with this problem for the last 4+ years and I was beginning to think there was no hope for him. Now if I could just find a cure for the chronic acne. I hate the way people look at him because of it.

UPDATE: It lasted about a week after I posted this and his nose started to run again. :o( Looks like this might be something he needs to be on for the rest of his life. I was SO hoping that wasn't going to be the case. The Draxxin works wonderful while he's on it, but only lasts so long. I hate ongoing medication...it can't be good for him.

Please read...

...and look into the eyes of these living, breathing, feeling, thinking animals and ask yourself what YOU need to do about it. It's happening everywhere, please don't sit back and let it continue. It will unless people step up and be their voice.

http://www.mfablog.org/2010/12/undercover-investigation-reveals-routine-cruelty-to-pigs-at-worlds-largest-pork-producer.html

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#%21/video/video.php?v=1428864126082&comments

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/food-health/the-fda-releases-the-amount-of-antibiotics-used-in-factory-farmed-livestock-and-its-jaw-dropping.html#mkcpgn=fbpg2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bn-U5GtyYs

http://www.uproar.org.au/pig-rescue/

Reposted Kijiji piglets

I just noticed that the person from last week has reposted the ad for piglets on Kijiji. The ad sounds much better, but I hope people realize that the ad was changed only because Kijiji did not allow it the way it was originally posted (with untrue facts). Just because the wording of the ad has been changed NOW does NOT make this a responsible pot bellied pig breeder. It is the same person who was spreading lies and mis- representing the breed last week. Anyone considering purchasing a piglet from there, PLEASE keep this in mind. Pigs are pigs are pigs...no matter what anyone will tell you. Yes, they are adorable and easy to handle now, but will be much different in a few months.

Some important things to remember...

*You cannot determine the size of a PBP when they are babies. Some may stay small, some may grow in excess of 200 pounds. There are many pigs who were purchased as "Teacup" or "Micro-mini" who grew to be the size of farm pigs!!! Please seriously consider if you can take this chance. An adult pig is VERY difficult to re-home. Please check out this website for more information...
http://www.teacuppig.info/

*Neutered males DO grow tusks!!! Don't ever let anyone tell you they don't.

*They should not be fed dog food or hog grower

*Vet care for a sick piggy is very difficult to find in this area

*They are in NO WAY like a puppy! They will destroy your yard. Puppies grow out of digging...pigs never outgrow rooting. It's who they are.

I beg anyone considering a PBP to do research on the breed. Like I've said before...I love mine like children, but they are difficult pets...very time consuming...very destructive...very frustrating at times...and not for everyone. I continue to say this only because the chances of an adult pig finding a good home are almost non-existant. If you aren't absolutely devoted to caring for that little piglet you bring home for the rest of its life, it stands to be abused, neglected, abandoned or butchered once it grows up and is passed on to someone else. This IS happening here (and everywhere) over and over again. Please be sure BEFORE you bring one home and please, if you decide that they are right for you, consider adopting a pig who desperately needs a home from a shelter rather than buying from breeders who are only adding to the problem of unwanted pigs.

Piper...the bad little Piggy!!!

Well...she's doing great. The mange is gone, she's house trained (ok...so maybe I am the one who is trained, but it's working, so we won't mess with it!) and she's very sweet. She's also the brattiest little piggy I have ever met! She still has to be confined to the kitchen. At first it was because my other pigs didn't like her, but now it's because SHE brings out the worst in them! They are doing so good, trying not to kill her (and they ARE trying ;o)), but every time she walks by them she lashes out and attacks. This is NOT going over well with my boys! She seems to think she is a princess. I can't imagine why. ;o)

She is getting so bored in the kitchen. I try to spend as much time in there with her as I can, and between the 4 of us, there is usually someone coming or going, but she wants someone to sit on the floor and snuggle with her all the time. As soon as you sit, she crawls onto your lap and goes to sleep. The second she hears the furnace come on, she runs to the heat vent and stands on it until it shuts off, warming her little hoovens. It's funny to watch and you can't drag her away from it.  When I turn my back she's chewing on my cupboards, trying to eat my floor, ripping layers off of the walls. Ahhh, what fun! It's a full time job watching this one. We had to bring the big kennel in to save my house while we are sleeping or not home. She's definitely busy. :o)

We have been working with getting her together with the boys, and it is coming slowly. I've brought her out to the living room the last few evenings to lie on the couch with me and she loves it. Goes right to sleep. Tonight I will lie on the floor with her and see if she will go to sleep down there right beside them. Hope it works.
(PS..the yellow thing in the picture is an extension cord! Didn't realize how it looked until after I posted it! :o))

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
No thoughts of the Piggy were filling their heads.
And Mom in her 'kerchief and I in my cap,
Knew he was cold but did not care about that.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
I figured the Piggy was free and into the trash.

The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow,
Gave the luster of mid-day to the objects below.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But Santa Claus with eyes full of tears.

He unchained the Piggy, once so lively and quick,
Last year's Christmas present, now sad, thin, and sick.
More rapid than eagles he called the Piggy's name,
And the Piggy ran to him, despite all his pain.

"Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now Prancer and Vixen!
On Comet! On Cupid! On Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!
This Piggy needs a home where he'll be loved by all!"

I knew in an instant there'd be no gifts this year,
For Santa had made one thing perfectly clear.
The gift of a Piggy is not just for the season,
We had gotten the Piggy for all the wrong reasons.

In our haste to think of a gift for the kids,
There was one very important thing that we missed.
A Piggy should be family and cared for the same,
You don't give a gift then put it out on a chain.

And I heard him exclaim as he rode out of sight,
"You weren't given a gift, you were given a life!"

~ Author Unkown

I am so frustrated!!!

Saw an ad on Kijiji today for more piglets that will be ready next month. The guy/gal sounded sincere, and probably was, but was SO off base with the info he/she was providing about pot bellied pigs. He/she was saying that they stay small (which is rarely the case. Mine are all 110+ pounds), that they don't need regular hoof trimming (not true), that neutered males do not grow tusks (all 4 of my neutered males have impressive tusks and I have stitches in my leg from trying to break up a pig food argument to prove it!!!), that any farm vet will handle your pig and it's needs (I speak from experience that this is NOT true...we have spent MANY hours travelling with Tucker because the vets around here were not familiar enough with pot bellied pigs to deal with them if/when they become ill (their words...not mine)), that they can be fed hog grower (which is true, I suppose...it won't kill them, but hog grower is made to grow pigs fast for slaughter, not to keep them healthy for a lifetime) and the best yet was when he/she said that they are no more destructive to your yard than most puppies. Puppies outgrow digging, pigs never will. I challenge a puppy to have the strength or perserverance that a pig and it's snout have! (Please view pictures several posts below to see the damage mine have done in a matter of hours...and keep in mind that they do this DAILY! It's not "bad"...it's what pigs were created to do and you will NEVER stop it.)

I feel like getting the truth about pot bellied pigs out there is a never ending battle when things like this happen. This breeder did offer a surrender option where if the purchaser was not able to care for the pig he/she would take it back, and I applaud them for this, but what about the people who read that false information and decide to get a pig from someone else? I wish these people would take the time to look into what is happening to these pigs when (usually) sincere but very misinformed people bring them home. All they have to do is stop trying to make them sound like something they are not, so people are able to make an informed decision BEFORE bringing one home. The lies being told about them in order to make a few dollars is so sad. I wish breeders would take the time to look into what is happening to these pigs. Supply and demand is a terrible thing. Baby pot bellied pigs are in high demand...so they are being mass produced for profit. Unfortunately, adult pigs are not and shelters are full to over flowing with them once people realize that the babies grow to be large and very dificult to handle.

This make my heart hurt so bad

http://flaglerlive.com/14476/pig-sanctuary-euthanized

What is unbelievable to me is that they spent the money to kill these pigs instead of using it to help this poor woman who was devoting her life to trying to help them. I do believe there were problems here, just put yourself in her position and look at the magnitued of what she was doing! But she was doing the best she could and needed HELP!!! Where was the help? People just don't realize how HUGE the problem is with unwanted, abused and abandoned pigs. PEOPLE are causing the problem and the pigs pay the horrible price every time. Those of us who care about these pigs are left trying to pick up the pieces on small budgets and little time, and getting told we are not doing enough or doing it right.
I am so sorry Lory. May they rest in peace now.

...and the Saga continues

I am a little scared to even post this. If nothing else, it will let me know how often my dad checks in on my page. I haven't told him yet that I have rescued yet another pig. He doesn't understand just how much these little guys and their horrible plight in life means to me. I'll put off the lecture as long as I possible can. (Take a few deep breaths before you call Dad, please! I know what I am doing!!! :o))

We are the 3rd home in less than a week for this little one. She's a 4 month old white pig. One blue eye, one brown eye. Very cool. Quite a contrast to my 4 black ones. She was purchased from a breeder in Camrose, and now the landlord doesn't allow pets in the house. Shouldn't that have been checked first??? Probably more likely that the owner realized that pigs are not dogs. They require a lot more time and patience, and are NOT suited for the trailer court he was living in. With this, I am assuming that this guy was her first home...who knows? She could have been passed through many homes before she made it there. The people who bought her next bought her for someone else, but the someone else didn't want/or couldn't have her...I didn't quite understand the situation. She was about to be shipped to the NTW yesterday, to "a place" the man said "where she won't last". So why ship her there??? I do have to say, the man did agree to give her to me even though he was wanting to make his money back on her. I applaud him for stopping to think about what was best for the pig. It seemed like it was a VERY impulsive decision on someone's part, and after a little thought it was obviously the wrong one. She was posted TWICE on Kijiji (2 different owners) last week as "URGENT!!! Pot bellied pig MUST go ASAP!!!" When will people realize that these guys are NOT toys? They have needs and feeings that get SO overlooked. This poor little girl is only 4 months old. She SHOULD have just left her mom a month ago, yet she's already gone through at least 3 homes. This has to stop.

She seems to be in OK shape, although she has a good case of mange and has various blisters on her nose pad and ears. She was also being fed horse feed (go figure???) I have isolated her, dewormed her and started her on proper PBP food. I expect she will be fine in a week.

I don't have any pictures on the computer yet, but I will post some as soon as I do. She's pretty sweet. It's easy to see at this stage in their lives how they can be marketed as sweet, easy to handle pets who will always stay small. It would be cool if that were true, but it's not. When the guy who dropped her off saw my boys, he was horrified that PBP got that big. He was (as is normal with someone trying to sell a pig) told that they stay very small. She was marketed in this way right from the breeder. When I contacted the breeder to let her know what was happening, she offered no help or any interest in taking the pig back. To me, this is just not responsible. The attitude that "what ever happens once they leave my house is not my business" is what is contributing greatly to the problem of unwanted and abandoned pigs.

Please Read...the truth of the "fad" just breaks my heart.

I didn't write this either, but every word is true. This has to stop!!!

http://www.9sites.org/tour/sanctuary/potbelliedpig.htm

Pot-bellied pigs - An Unfortunate Trend

Potbellied Pigs - An Unfortunate Trend

by R.A.S.T.A. Rescued Animal Sanctuary on Tuesday, October 19, 2010 at 9:06pm

Over the past ten years, R.A.S.T.A. has always had around three potbellied pigs at the sanctuary with a new surrender coming in every year or two.  However, in the last several months, we have taken in over twenty new pigs with more coming in the next couple weeks and an endless stream of calls and emails from people begging us to take their potbelly pigs.  The excuses are always the same; “we had no idea they would get so big”, “the breeder guaranteed  us she would stay small”, “we didn’t think he would be more than 50lbs.”, “we didn’t realize they were so much work”, “we had no idea how destructive they are”……etc.
R.A.S.T.A. can not serve as an endless-dumping ground for potbelly pigs and other novelty pets after people have had their fun with them (there simply isn’t enough money or land in the world). We do our best to educate the public about what is involved with caring for these animals, but unfortunately, there are many breeders out there that could care less about the well being of the animals they are selling and will use whatever unethical tactics they feel is necessary to sell and make as much money as possible.  Using such headings as “Micro Mini” & “Tea Cup Potbelly Pigs” – “Guaranteed to Stay Tiny” – “Max 40lbs.”  to attract people and fool them into what they are getting themselves into.

Contrary To What Most Potbelly Pig Breeders Would Like You To Believe:

• There is no such thing as “Micro Mini” or “Tea Cup Potbelly Pigs” – this is simply a marketing tactic used by unethical breeders to sell more pigs
• Miniature Pigs or Potbelly Pigs grow to an average size of 150lbs. to 250lbs. NOT 40lbs.!!
• Potbelly pigs are called miniature pigs because when compared to their cousins, farm pigs who can grow in excess of 1,000lbs. they are obviously miniature in comparison.
• While some breeders will declare that they have a “Special Line” or “Special Breed” of tiny pig and guarantee that it will stay small, ALL Potbelly Pigs in North America and Hawaii come from the same line.  Period!!
• The pictures you see of tiny pigs advertised are of babies that are just a couple of weeks old.  The average Potbelly Pig weighs 50lbs. when they are six months old.
• Some especially corrupt breeders will breed baby Potbelly Pigs as young as four months old to create the illusion to prospective buyers that the offspring will not grow larger than the parents.
• As for the “Guarantee” that breeders give about the pigs staying small, they will not take them back when they exceed their 50lb. weight – after 15 years of rescuing Potbelly Pigs, we have yet to meet a single ethical breeder!
• Starving or underfeeding potbelly pigs, or any animal for that matter, will not keep them small but rather cause deformities and serious health problems.
• Potbelly Pigs are illegal in most cities and towns including Calgary!!
• They are very expensive pets as they require an exotic animal vet.  Spaying and neutering is far more costly.  They require special anesthetic.
• They need four hoof trims a year which most farriers (horse hoof trimmers) will not do.  A veterinary hoof trim costs an average of $300 – that’s $1,200 a year!!
• Males grow tusks that need to be professionally maintained.
• They require a closely monitored diet of  specialized feed (not hog grower!!) which is expensive and hard to find.
• Potbellied pigs can be terribly destructive in the home and garden as rooting is a natural pig behavior for them.  They will rip up your lawn in no time.
• They can become quite aggressive towards other animals and people if not socialized and trained properly.
• They do not behave like dogs and hate being picked up and cuddled.
• Potbelly Pigs can live for twenty five years.
• They are not good pets for children or the average person as they require a great deal of time and expertise.
• Potbelly pigs are pigs, which are farm animals that need to live on a farm with other pigs.

When adopting an animal, always remember to do your research and know what is involved with caring for the animal so that you can make an informed decision.

One step back...two steps forward (or something like that!)

Made great progress today, even though it was incredibly hard to watch. I let MacGyver out free today with the other pigs. I've known all along that they were going to have to fight it out to establish the new pecking order, I was just putting it off as long as I could. When I tried putting him and Lukie together last week, it didn't go well and I separated them. I hadn't made enough progress with him yet to risk bringing more fear in, so I decided to wait. Today, he was ready to go outside free...and in order to do that, he HAS to get along with the boys.

His first meeting was with Tanner and it went great. Tanner took one look at his size and voluntarily decided that he would take the lower rung of the ladder! It was quite funny, he actually got down on his knees and crawled away! No problems there...they are good friends now and were rooting side by side.

When he met Lukie again, things didn't go so smoothly. They both laid down an obvious challenge. Within seconds they were fighting and fighting hard. It is awful to watch. Most of it is just a lot of pushing, but they also go for the ears, so we were close by to break things up if need be. They fought hard for several minutes before Lukie finally walked away. The instant he did, things were fine. I couldn't help but feel bad for the poor guy. He's been at the bottom of the pecking order for so long and figured this was his big chance to move up. It was sad to see him realize that he had bitten off more than he could chew. MacGyver is a big boy. Not a fighter by nature I don't think, but someone who will stick up for himself if need be.

Nothing so far with Tucker. They crossed paths on the driveway, but both just kept walking. Maybe MacGyver was too tired to offer any challenge...I don't know. I'm sure something will happen between the two before long. Maybe MacGyver just picked up on the fact that Tucker is king! :o)

All 4 pigs came inside shortly after the big event. I was so happy to see MacGyver come to the door of the house as his "safe place". I was sure he would now, but it's always scary letting them go loose for the first time. He knows this is home. I had some doctoring to do...Polysporin on bloody ears...but it's over. I know there will be smaller "squables" here and there, but the big fight is over. MacGyver has come SO FAR since I brough him home 2 weeks ago. He went from totally wild and untouchable to a sweet, trusting, friendly house piggy in a very short time. I wish people would open their eyes and see this potential.

Then...

 Now...

A bit of a setback today...

...but a prime example of what I've been saying. I cannot stress this enough...it is SO important to understand this before you bring a house pig home.

I had to run into town today to drop my daughter off at work, so I had to cut MacGyver's 10am walk short. I've been taking him out between 4-5 hours every day...either walking or standing as he digs for China - and even this is not enough. I cannot stress enough how much pigs NEED this outlet for their energy. Because I had to leave, I had to rush his time outside this morning and bring him back in before he was ready. I wasn't gone very long before my other daughter (who was still home) called to tell me that he was destroying our house! He had smashed his way through the gate separating him from the other pigs (thank God they were outside) and was moving the living room furniture around! There was nothing she could do. This went on for 2 hours.

When I got home, it looked like a tornado had hit my living room...I really should have taken pictures! Cassidy met me at the door with a smile (which really surprised me after the 5 or 6 frantic phone calls I had received in the hour leading up to this moment telling me to COME HOME NOW!) and informed me that MacGyver finally tuckered out and went to sleep just as I was pulling in to the drive way. You gotta love my kids! I was braced for her wrath, but instead I got a smile. :o) She offered to clean up the mess (bless her heart) while I took MacGyver out for a longer walk. An hour later, I brought him back in and he's been sleeping like a baby ever since. This is normal.

This is exactly what happens when people who don't have the space, time or patience decide to bring home a pot-bellied pig. It's not always as noticable when the pig is small, but becomes VERY obvious when it matures and has the brute force a grown pig has behind it. When a pig can't release it's energy by rooting, bad things ALWAYS happen. They become destructive and wreck things and then they are considered too difficult to handle or have in the house. Then they are sent outside to live alone, where they only get worse. They become wild and even more difficult to handle and then nobody wants them. People need to realize this. Was it a pain in the butt having him do this today? Absolutely. Does it mean he's a rotten beast? Not at all. Unfortunately, because MacGyver has already been through the senario I just mentioned, he IS wild right now and the only way for me to change that is to be with him all the time. That means he can only go outside when I am able to take him on a leash or I wouldn't be able to catch him again. I cut his time short today...not him. If you have a pig who isn't getting enough outside activity, doing what he loves to do (root, root and root some more), he WILL BE DESTRUCTIVE and it's YOUR fault not his. This is the kind of thing that makes people give up on their pigs and it's the kind of thing that leads to them being abandoned, abused and slaughtered. A wild adult pig is almost impossible to find a good home for. This isn't an exception to the rule...this IS the rule with pigs.

Once I can let him out free with the other pigs, this won't be a problem. My other pigs are able to spend as much time outdoors as they want and usually just sleep when they do come inside. It will take some time and won't always be easy to get him to that point, but I know it will be worth it. He's worth it.

He's in the house and we've had our break-through moment!!! :o)

Today is a good day! We brought MacGyver inside last night. I have my doubts about the gate we have actually holding a pig (or 4) back if they really wanted to come through...but it is doing the trick right now. Fingers crossed. The other 3 don't seem concerned at all that MacGyver is in the house. I know that is just because he's on the other side of the gate, so we will have to move slowly on that one. I'm just glad he's in before the snow hit.

I had my favorite break-through moment this morning while we were out walking. MacGyver (who still is not sure about being on a leash) lied down, out of the blue. I sat beside him and talked to him for a few minutes while he studied me. This moment is always big for me because it's the moment when they make the decision whether they are going to move past their fear of people (most of it well founded) and trust. You can tell it's not an easy thing for them to do...they are a lot like people that way I guess. I reached out and touched his back end (something I haven't been able to do yet...I've only been able to pet his front end...and only while he's eating) and he didn't move, just kept watching me. I started to pet his back and then moved to his side. It only took a few seconds before he rolled over for the much loved belly rub! Probably his first ever. I sat out there and pet him for about 30 minutes. I just LOVE that moment!!!

People give up WAY TO EASILY on these guys. I wish people would understand that they are thinking, feeling, loving animals who deserve SO MUCH BETTER than what they get. It makes me so sad to see so much intelligence being wasted in a filthy, muddy pen all alone. It's just not right and it seems like nobody cares. :o(

Curb Animal Cruelty...please read

http://action.wspa.ca/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=23&ea.campaign.id=6489

Making progress with MacGyver!!!

I think I have gone as far as I can go with him outside. He will come to me and take carrots out of my hand and he will let me pet him while he's eating (HUGE improvement from the day I brought him home!!!), but when he runs away there's nothing more I can do. We managed to get a harness on him yesterday... I am surprised this is not a rodeo event... and took him for a walk around the yard. He wasn't happy with it, but by the end he was coming around. I was worried that ordeal was going to erase any progress we have made, but he was happy to see me again this morning. I was hoping to bring him into the house last night, as it is starting to really cool off, but Scott is away this weekend and I need him to help build a gate in the house that will keep the pigs separated until they accept each other. We tried introducing Mac and Lukie (my most easy going pig) without a fence the other day and it didn't go well. I have to admit, the problem was more with Lukie than Mac. I know all it will take is time, but I'm anxious to get him inside before the snow comes and I know the time is very limited. Lukie crawled under the fence a few days ago and was in MacGyver's pen for several hours before I realized he was there. They were none the worse for wear...until I walked out...then we ended up with bloody ears! All for my benefit it seems.

I am hopeful and looking forward to seeing how he does in the house. He looks so sad out there in the cold. Times like this I wish you could reason with animals. :o)

Do pot-bellied pigs make good city pets?

This is a question people often ask. The truth of the matter is that, no, they do not make good city pets. My pigs have several acres in which they are able to roam free and root to their hearts content, yet the damage they do is still a big problem. Pigs were created to root...plain and simple. It's what they do. It's what they LOVE to do and you will never change that. Sure, you can limit their access to your yard in hopes to save your grass and flowers...only taking them out to potty or confining them to a pig run in the back yard. Or, better yet, you could house train them to use a litter box. All of these options are available to you, but are they fair for your pig? The honest answer is no.

These are some pictures I have taken of my yard. This is a constant daily occurance with pigs. The first picture is the damage that my newest rescue pig has done in 1 week. This area use to be grass! Please look at these pictures and ask yourself 2 questions. #1. Is it right (or even possible) to keep a pig from doing what he was created for? #2. If I don't let him do what he was created for (...see photos!), what will he do with all of that energy while confined to my home?

Pig in need of a home (sad story)

I'm sure there's a better way to post this...but I'm just not there yet! Please be patient!!! Hope this works.

http://www.facebook.com/index.php?lh=0bd3215849b38704c90db41744d3a203&eu=6ronIr8Sp-ck9PZOufXnxg#!/photo.php?fbid=167740376576541&set=a.154416924575553.32397.154229504594295

MacGyver

This is my newest pig, MacGyver. I brought him home a week ago and he is still very shy and scared of people. I found him on Kijiji. I don't have a lot of history on him except that he was purchased by the most recent owners from an auction as a breeding male to breed MORE pigs that will end up in horrible situations. I will never understand that. It wasn't until he was brought home that they discovered he was neutered. He was no longer of use and was banished to a very small, muddy pen with no shelter... all alone (I was told he preferred this.) His one leg is twisted from not having anything solid to stand on. When I emailed about him, I was told that he was not friendly and would not make a good pet. He was about to be traded to a meat rabbit breeder for some meat rabbits. I'm certain his intentions with MacGyver were not good, especially when he is being marketed as someone who would not make a good pet.

He is a sweet guy. He is eating out of my hand now and letting me pet him. I am anxious to try him in the house, but we are having a few pecking order disputes between him and the other pigs right now that need to be settled first. He seems to be ok to be the submissive one, so I hope it won't take much longer. We were told that he was a year and a half, but he's obviously older than that. I would say around 5 years. He's quite heavy as he wasn't being fed properly. I am so excited for the day when he has nothing but trust towards me.

Lukie

This is Lukie, my 3rd pig, with our dog Marley. Lukie is Tanner's full brother. I didn't get Lukie as a baby though, like I did Tanner. Instead, he was sold as a city pet. He was welcomed into the house when he was young and adorable, but because no research was done into pot-bellied pigs as pets...he was not neutered. An unneutered pig does NOT make a good house pet, so he was banished to the back yard when things started to go wrong. He was also fed dog food, which is NOT what pot-bellied pigs should be fed.

I got Lukie because he escaped from the plywood box he was being kept in in the back yard and crawled under the fence. He wandered the street and rooted up several neighbor's gardens. The SPCA was called in and the owners were threatened to take better care of their pig or get rid of it. I called the owner immediately after I heard the story and offered to take him.

When I arrived to pick him up, he was back in the plywood box. It was half the size of the average bathroom with 4ft high walls that he couldn't see out of, a piece of wood covering the top at an angle that allowed the rain to drain onto the dirt floor causing mud. He was threatened and scared by the owners "cool" boyfriend to get into the kennel "or else". Or else what...I'm not sure. I was told how this rotten pig ate their cordless phone and all the other "bad" things he had done, but nothing good.

Lukie is 3 years old now and also 110 pounds. He is the most easy going and gentle of my pigs. He's a hard guy not to love.

Tanner

Tanner is the pig at the top of the page. He's the only one I didn't "rescue". The breeder I got Tanner from seemed to care about his pigs and take care of them, but where they went from there was not his concern. He was selling these babies as city pets to anyone who wanted one. I don't care what you read in books...pot-bellied pigs do NOT belong in the city...it's just not fair to them. Within a very short period of time, this breeder added close to 100 pot-bellied pigs to this area.

Tanner is a card. He is 3 years old now and 110 pounds. He comes in from a hard days rooting as round as a beach ball. He's so full that he can't even lie down without effort. Sometimes he just stands there...trying to figure out the best approach. By morning, he's back to normal. Apparently grass produces a lot of gas. I try to tell him this...but he just won't listen! He's a sweetheart. He even had his picture in the Edmonton Sun and the Grande Prairie paper recently...he's a star!

Tucker

This is Tucker. He is my first pig, and although I know that favorites are bad...he's my best guy. He was only a few months old when this picture was taken, he's now 5 years old and 110 pounds.

I bought Tucker from a breeder who cared nothing about the pigs she was breeding. They were there to make her money and that's all. He was the last in his litter, as his brothers and sisters had all been packed away by a crow when they were 1 day old. He was taken from his mother when he was 4 weeks old and put into a guinea pig cage (the small wire ones you buy at pet stores) in an unventilated shed with several rabbits any many birds. When she opened the door to go in and get him, the smell was unbearable. He was forced to live...night and day... right in something that I couldn't stomach from several feet away. Even though everything in me was screaming "DON'T SUPPORT THIS!!!" I could not walk away and leave him there. When I dewormed him, he was FULL of worms. It was seriously one of the most disgusting things I have ever seen. He was also full of mange. It was very sad.

Tucker's life has been full of chronic health problems. His nose runs constantly and has for the last 4 years and he has serious, chronic acne on his face and legs. We've travelled to many vets, who all did their best, but ended up telling me there was nothing more they could do for him. His lungs are only working at half capacity. His life, I am sure, will be shorter than most.

Because he was taken from his mother too early, Tucker doesn't have the social skills most pigs have. He doesn't get along well with other pigs and is grouchy most of the time. He is difficult to live with. He is also the best friend I have ever had.

I STRONGLY urge anyone who is seriously considering adding a pot-bellied pig to their family to PLEASE consider adopting an adult pig from a rescue organization. The number of abandoned and abused pigs needing a home is staggering when you consider the number of breeders out there who are mass producing this wonderful animal for profit.

Pot-bellied pigs...throw away pets?

I can't help but notice the increasing number of pot-bellied pigs becoming available in this area. I just want to stress, for those of you who may not be aware, that pig ownership is a HUGE commitment...in hopes that people will be very careful when making the decision about whether to add one to their home or not.

Pot-bellied pigs are so sweet as babies, but these babies...like all others...do grow up and they grow up fast. An adult pig will be very different from the sweet little piglet you originally bring into your home. They MUST MUST MUST be spayed or neutered or they do NOT make good house pets. This is not just something that is "recommended", it is an ABSOLUTE must. They NEED room to roam and root to their hearts content EVERYday or they become bored and destructive. A simple back yard is not enough. They will destroy your grass, flowers and any other plant (poisonous or not) you may have and root HUGE holes on a constant, never ending basis. This isn't "bad" behaviour...it's what pigs were created to do and you will never change that. If you do find a way to keep them from doing this, they won't be happy and that energy will go into other destructive things. It is also very difficult in this area to find a vet who deals with pigs beyond the basic things. If your pig develops a health problem, chances are you will have to travel to find him help. I speak from experience. You will also have to travel to get the proper food for a pot-bellied pig. They should never be fed regular farm pig food. The closest place to get what you should be feeding them is Leduc and it is quite costly.

Yes, what you have heard about pigs being very clean in the house is true. They are very clean when it comes to bathroom habits (if they are fixed and trained properly), but they are still…and always will be…pigs. They will get into anything and everything that is not locked...your fridge, your cupboards, your garbage, etc. and they leave froth (male pigs are more known for this) and nose marks on every surface of your home. They are extremely messy eaters, which means mopping the floor after meals is a necessity. They will pull the cushions off your couch and shred them if they so feel like and leave bite marks on the legs of your furniture... regardless of how expensive it was. They will also chew on the corner of every wall in your house. I have seen a pig peel linoleum off a floor almost like peeling an orange, just because he could. They have amazingly strong noses and when they get something in their mind...they don't give up. If left alone they will overturn your plants, tip your coffee table, get into anything that you have left out and will shred your best shirt if left in the laundry pile to which they have access. Mine have spread 20kg bags of potting soil through my house, tipped over my hedgehog cage, freeing her and spreading the contents of her cage from bedroom to kitchen. They've gone into the bedroom, shut the door behind them and have pulled all the blankets and pillows off the bed to make their own little nest...ripping every one. They have eaten the wall in my hallway to where it needs to be replaced. Do they do this every time they are left alone? No. But it's a real treat when they choose to do it...and it does happen.

Pigs are social animals and are very loving. However, again, they are still pigs and they have their own social system. They are VERY strong willed. Making a pig do something he doesn't want to do or doesn't see the point in (and they do think things through) is almost impossible. Even miniature pigs are solid and STRONG. They get cranky when things aren't going their way and an angry pig is about as easy to handle as an angry bear. The term "pig headed" is used for a very good reason. If you have more than one, they will bicker and even fight if one decides, for whatever reason (can be as simple as the other one walking past him), that he is offended. A pig argument is a real event when you place it in the middle of a living room. Pigs also should NEVER be left unattended with other animals or small children. After 4 years of getting along without any sign of a problem, ours attacked our large dog and she required $660 worth of stitches. This attack was unprovoked.

After saying all of this, I also want to add that pigs are the best pets I have ever owned. I have 4 and love them like children and can't imagine my life without them. I just want to stress that they are NOT for everybody, and I would go so far as to say that they are not the pet for MOST people. They don’t make good city pets. 3 of my 4 pigs are rescue pigs who suddenly found themselves without a home and in horrible situations once they grew into what they are…pigs. This is happening WAY TOO MUCH in this area!!! Pot-bellied pigs are bred as pets, yet they are being sent for slaughter and are being dumped off on the side of the road when they start to mature and their owners (who did no research about them) are done with them. They are “throw away pets” and this is abuse. Please be very honest with yourself when deciding if a pig is for you and your family. If you don't have the time or patience to deal with any of the issues I have mentioned (plus others that you haven’t even begun to imagine), chances are you will not be happy with a pig. If you like a clean, tidy house all the time, then they are probably not for you. Pigs come to know their families and changing families is very stressful for them. There is a condition where stress can actually kill a pig...they don't handle it well. They can also be difficult if you travel and need to find someone to look after them. Not many people want a pig in their house, and more than likely your pig will not want to be in someone else’s house without you anyways...which would only lead to more problems. They are a lot of work and a long term commitment and I believe it is a commitment that should never be made lightly.

A note to pot-bellied pig breeders: Please consider having your piglets spayed or neutered before selling them, and PLEASE do some research into what is happening to these babies once they begin to mature, especially the ones being sold as city pets. These wonderful creatures are at the mercy of a fad and MANY of them are ending up in horrible situations and even being butchered. Someone needs to start taking responsibility for this and it has to begin with you.

Welcome!!!

Welcome to my very first blog! This is a huge thing for me because I am NOT computer friendly! I started this blog for one reason...to get my experience with pot-bellied pigs out to the general public, to HOPEFULLY help in someone's decision about whether to add one to their home or not. It is my hope that someone out there looking into a pot-bellied pig as a pet will gain knowledge from my experience as I have found a lot of the information out there is not true. They make WONDERFUL pets...but they are not for everybody. I hope to, in some way stop these special creatures from being abused and abandoned. Hope you enjoy and would love to hear from you. :o)