Abandoned Pot-Bellied Pig Teaches Public That Farm Animals Have Feelings Too

Pot-bellied pigs are often classified more as livestock than pets, but they have an intelligent, affectionate demeanor that, given the proper care and surroundings, melts hearts with the love they give back. However, many people don't realize the demands of keeping precious piglets as pets, which leaves some wrestling with finding a place to be cherished and respected.

In August 2020, a tiny pig was found running down the street in Prince George's County, Maryland. A good samaritan called their local animal control agency but was informed that they didn't take pigs. Luckily, the dedicated rescuer spoke to Serenity Farm Virginia, a sanctuary caring for neglected farm animals in Clarke County, Virginia, and drove two hours to safely deliver the itty-bitty piggy.

Story written by Alex Lemieux.

Posted by Marielru

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Serenity Farm Virginia's Founder and Executive Director, Jo Bighouse, said this baby pig was roughly six to seven weeks old when she arrived. Barely a foot long, she was unable to eat solid food, still in the age range of breastfeeding from her mother. At this time, the piglet's unofficial name was "Baby Pig," and Jo and her team weren't positive if she was a young full-size pig or a much smaller pot-bellied pig.

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Regardless, Baby Pig was in for a harrowing journey toward better health as she was suffering from dehydration and exhaustion when she arrived at the sanctuary. Her caretakers at Serenity Farm Virginia faced a daunting task: ensuring her immediate survival.
"I wrapped her tightly in a blanket to give her security and offered her a bottle of goat milk," Jo said. "She would not take the bottle, so I began placing milk from a dropper onto her tongue."

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Things took a turn for the worst in the middle of Baby Pig's first night in the sanctuary.
"By 1:00 a.m., she had declined to the point her condition appeared life-threatening. I called the emergency hospital to take her in for medical care but was told there was no veterinarian on call who could treat a pig," Jo explained.

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She then described how she spent the entire night holding swaddled Baby Pig, rocking her gently back and forth, speaking soothing encouragement to her, and continued to place drops of goat milk on her tongue for nourishment. Fortunately, Jo's tranquility and vigilance were the precise medicines Baby Pig needed to recover.
"By 8:00 a.m., she looked brighter and more animated—the crisis had passed," Jo declared.

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For the next few days, Jo fed the pint-sized piggy goat milk-soaked food by hand, and soon, Baby Pig was able to gain the strength necessary to eat and drink independently. During that time, Jo personally introduced her to her new home, a place where she was promised protection and value.
"I continued to swaddle her like a baby to give her comfort and took her outside in the sunshine," Jo elucidated. "I told her about her new home, showed her the trees and flowers in the yard, and let her know she was in a safe place."

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Baby Pig then confirmed to Jo that she was her new mom by snuggling her face into Jo's neck as she softly grunted with acceptance. Soon afterward, the piglet was walking around the sanctuary, exploring her new surroundings, following closely behind Jo with her every step.
After Baby Pig settled into her new home, Jo and her team decided that Baby Pig needed an actual name. They turned to their Facebook following via a naming contest, and her new loving label was "Petunia."

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As Petunia got older, her caretakers also determined that she was a pot-bellied pig. They speculate that Petunia may have escaped from someone breeding pet pigs in the urban Maryland area. Now, Petunia is one of Serenity Farm Virginia's animal ambassadors.
Every time a visitor arrives, Petunia drops whatever she's doing—snacking on pumpkins, stretching out in the swimming pool, or foraging on fresh grass and roots—and greets everyone with sweet little squeaks and a wagging tail.

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Jo explained that Petunia loves people and can use her position at the sanctuary to demonstrate the "depth of an animal's emotions and intelligence" by allowing people to pet her and experience her heart-warming responses to their touch. In these one-on-one sessions, both pig and person can look into each other's eyes, peer into the soul, and extract feelings of genuine coexistence.
"They make a connection that dispels the myth that farm animals are unfeeling creatures who can be treated as a commodity," Jo illustrated.

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"Falling in love with Petunia during a visit, which is so easy to do, can create a desire for people to purchase a little pig as a pet," Jo said. This opportunity allows Jo and the sanctuary's volunteers to discuss the needs of a pig and the commitment necessary to provide a healthy and stimulating environment for 15 to 20 years. Unfortunately, the most frequent calls to Serenity Farm Virginia are requests to house pot-bellied pigs.

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"Like most sanctuaries," Jo continued, "we are not able to accommodate the majority of them." She hopes that her effort to educate the public will eventually prevent the need to re-home pigs.
In conjunction with educating visitors on the needs of pot-bellied pigs, Petunia has even inspired an entire line of merchandise, including T-shirts, puzzles, postcards, bookmarks, and a stuffed piggy made in her likeness.

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When she's not posing for her next photo-op, Petunia's days are filled with interacting with cats and dogs in the backyard and with the other pot-bellied pigs through their shared fence. Nevertheless, Petunia has become a transition manager for the other animals, as when new residents arrive at the sanctuary, they will share the piggy pen with her.

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"She is initially a gracious hostess," Jo said. However, Petunia also understands to let her caretakers know when the temporary piggy pen placement is large enough to move into their own home.

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Jo described that a baby goat named Fievel, a long-time pig pen mate of Petunia's, began playing with her as if she was a goat, leading Petunia to put her tiny foot down and make the team aware that she was ready for him to move out. But, she's gained followers on the farm like Oliver, a blind and crippled full-size pig that seeks out Petunia and stands with her as she grazes the fence line.

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When the sun sets on days filled with chin scratches, munching on apples and squash, and playful relationship building with the other residents at the sanctuary nestled at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Jo or one of her teammates will yell, "Pen!" This lets Petunia know that it's time for bed. After a quick dash to her enclosure, Petunia is tucked in with a homemade cookie treat and enjoys a back massage before drifting off to sleep, dreaming of how blessed she is to spend the next day with such a loving family.

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