Hubert says sanctuaries are quick to blame all breeders for the overwhelming numbers of rescued mini-pigs. Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah, estimated a total of , in —a figure that's grown in the years since. But, says Hubert, breeders who are reputable understand that they're responsible for the pigs they bring into the world.
It's their duty to spay and neuter piglets, match them with dedicated and informed owners, and find new homes for them if anything goes wrong. Places that don't, Hubert adds, are no better than puppy mills. Rich Hoyle, a year sanctuary veteran who founded The Pig Preserve in Jamestown, Tennessee, eight years ago, says he's seeing more rescued minis with congenital problems—such as deep recessed eyes, males born with retained testicles, and females born without an anus—because of poor breeding practices.
On many rescues, the herd of 50 to pigs he encounters are descended from one pair of siblings. Lana Hollenback founded the Forgotten Angels Rescue and Education Center in Deer Lodge, Tennessee, in as a resource for individuals and other sanctuaries that need new homes for pigs. These days she fields ten calls a day for false minis. She says phone calls—mostly concerning pigs under two years old whose owners thought they would fit in their pocket—have been "increasing tremendously" over the past few years.
And then there are Esther's owners, Jenkins and Walter. As Esther grew, so did the couple's resolve to keep her. That meant upgrading from their 1,square-foot home 93 square meters and moving to a place large enough to open a sanctuary for Esther and other farm animals.
Jenkins, a real-estate agent, and Walter, a magician, say the "Esther effect"—their term for how one pig has caused them to rethink their entire way of living—is inspiring them to do more. To make sure the sanctuary in Campbellville, Ontario, is eventually self-funded, they want to open a year-round bed and breakfast, which would give visitors ample time to interact with the pigs and walk the area's forest trails.
They also plan to open a meatless restaurant, with food grown in a community garden that becomes an ice rink in winter. Havens are opening elsewhere as well. The American Sanctuary Association now accredits 37 such places in the United States, and estimates there are a few hundred more. About 20 long-running sanctuaries rescue only pigs.
Since the early s, Best Friends Animal Society has taken in stray pigs let loose in the desert or left behind when people move. Meanwhile, mini-pig numbers at Marana, Arizona's Ironwood Pig Sanctuary grew from in to nearly today. Half the rescues in the past nine years were non-mini mini-pigs like Esther. While the number of sanctuaries has been growing, the funding for them hasn't been keeping pace. That means overcrowding is becoming an issue at existing havens.
At least ten pig sanctuaries have closed in the past two years from lack of space and funding. Forgotten Angels' Hollenback says a big part of her job these days is persuading owners to say "no. Our hearts sometimes get in the way of our brains. The fiscal solution may lie in the wisdom of crowdfunding.
In the past two years, crowdfunding sites have hosted thousands of campaigns for a variety of animal sanctuaries.
For contributing to Esther's home, the 7, online donors received an assortment of goodies, including a piece of Esther's blanket, a video chat with the pig herself, and an apple tree planted in their name the apples will be used as food for the animals.
Funding methods have come a long way since , when Farm Sanctuary set up the first reserves in the U. Social media is a big reason why. Esther's Facebook page reaches two million people each week, and she's been "social" for only ten months. As the mini-pig problem wears on, new sanctuaries continue to open—but not quickly enough.
Virtually all of the existing ones are already at or exceeding capacity. Hoyle says part of the problem is generational. Hoyle's wardrobe consists of dirty jeans, battered boots, and sweat-stained shirts. One of his trucks, covered in mud, rust, and "a few petrified pig turds on the inside," has almost , miles , kilometers on the odometer.
And his refrigerator contains more pig medicine than human food. What is the lifespan of a mini pig? Pigs may live for up to 15 years. During that time you will need to plan for vet visits just like you would with other pets.
Pigs require vaccinations and are susceptible to a number of illnesses that humans also get, such as the flu. It is very unlikely a pet clinic will accept pigs. Tusk trims may also be required. Because they are prey animals, sometimes pigs try to hide the fact that they are sick or injured. Do you have the knowledge or skills necessary to recognize common symptoms of disease, injury or infection in your pet pig? Mature, intact boars i. Therefore, male pigs should be neutered castrated as early as possible while they are young.
The procedure should only be done by an experienced veterinarian using pain medication. Spaying female pigs is not very common, so you may find it difficult to locate a vet who is willing to perform the procedure. Depending on the breed, pigs may become sexually mature as early as three to four months of age. If you adopt a male and female together, you will need to neuter your male. Pigs can have litters of up to 14 piglets at a time.
While 14 piglets sounds like cuteness overload at first, you will quickly be overwhelmed. Do you know how to humanely catch a pig and get it into a vehicle? Pigs, like humans, are susceptible to motion sickness and may become nauseous in a moving vehicle. Do you have a vehicle big enough to safely transport your pig, keeping in mind it might get dirty during the trip? Transporting a pig in the trunk of a car or the back of a pickup truck would be unsafe, as would allowing the pig to move about freely inside a moving vehicle.
Pigs can be taught like any other animal, in things such as house training, using positive reinforcement. Food rewards go a long way with pigs! However, unlike puppy classes for dogs , there are not a lot of options for pig training classes.
This means you will need to be comfortable training your pig on your own. Most people say it smells worse than horse or cow manure. In other words, expect a few complaints from the next door neighbours. In the end, like so many fad pets before them, it is the pigs who pay the price for their popularity.
Well-intentioned but poorly-informed caregivers become overwhelmed and, as a result, many pet pigs are relinquished to shelters, rescues and hobby farms. However, pet pigs can be very hard to re-home, as these groups often have little or no capacity to take in unwanted pigs. You may be left facing euthanasia by a vet. Many are no longer popular because people have realized they are just not suitable as pets.
Sadly, though, the realization often comes only after the animals have suffered. Being the larger of the two, the miniature potbellied pig will require more food, however, you always want to restrict access to food so that your pet doesn't become overweight.
Differing in size, behaviour, and diet, miniature pot belly pigs and teacup pigs are both great options for individuals and families looking for a friendly, sociable companion. Chose the one that is right for you and begin enjoying the beginning of 15 to 20 years you can expect with your new pet. Home Blog. Miniature Pot Belly Pigs vs. Teacup Pigs: What's the Real Difference?
Differences in Physical Appearance The most prevalent difference between miniature and teacup pigs is their size and stature. Differences in Behavior While both types of pigs require proper socializing and training to behave correctly, there are certain behavioural differences that are notable between the two. Differences in Diet While pigs would be glad to eat from sunrise to sunset, it's vital that you feed your pet the proper amounts of food at proper times.
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