Story: Big Arnie's Story

A True Pig Story By Phyllis Battoe 

I'm always willing to tell Arnie Stories. Arnie belonged to a wonderful older couple in Chicago. He started taking over the house one room at a time and was a complete spoiled brat. His people Dad had bad legs and Arnie would knock him around when he wanted him out of the room. They sadly took Arnie to a rescue place in northern Illinois that was close enough for them to visit.

This place turned all the goats, horses, pigs, etc., loose together. When they went back the next week to check, Arnie was laying in a dirt hole outside in the cold shaking. Seems there was only a three sided barn and the other animals wouldn't let this pig who had been in the house all his life inside with them. It was this time of year (Fall) and too cold for him. I don't know who gave them my name but Helen called crying and I said bring him on.

When he got here he had pneumonia, was pretty beat up and went into deep depression; not eating, not getting up, not doing anything except biting me if I walked too close. I had to roll him up on his stomach to feed him and give him water and the way he ate was a riot.

I rolled the food into a ball and every time he would snap at me ...which was every time I held the food out...I would throw the ball of food in his mouth. I didn't tell his people Mom but I really didn't give him much chance of making it because he didn't WANT to make it. It took him three weeks to get back on his feet and that was 4 years ago.

His Mom is getting a little old for the 5 hour drive to see him but his Aunt and Uncle, Barb and John, took her place for the last three years. They make the trip once a month come hell or high water...bring him (and all the other pigs too) goodies and visit all day then drive back to Chicago. John trims my bushes, cleans the gutters and all the stuff that he can to help. Barb always brings a picnic lunch...summer and winter...(they know that I don't cook.

His people Mom still sends UPS packages addressed to him that have extra goodies like pop tarts, animal crackers, pillows that I would die for and any number of other goodies. Arnie has become such a good boy that they are amazed...they will even pass him in the hallway now which they wouldn't have done 4 years ago. He is probably the least problem of any of the house animals except he still chases my husband ....but that's because he thinks it is oh so neat to see this strange man run!!!

He is one of the lucky ones that had good owners but they were too good and spoiled him to the point that they couldn't live with him any longer...but I wish all the guys here had people parents like these. They ask me if Arnie would ever go outside and I said only if he decides that is where he wants to be. Most of these pigs just gradually gravitate to staying out longer periods until they choose to have full control of their lives....NOT ARNIE!

After four years he has complete run of the farm but lets me know in no uncertain terms that he is not made for staying out over night. He goes to the lake, he goes to the persimmon grove but when he wants in for a nap or for bedtime, he wants in like NOW! So that is the story of the Big Arnie.

Story: Arnold: My Best Friend

A True Pig Story By Brock Gibson

I recently lost my best friend Arnold in an automobile accident while moving my family to our new home in Arizona. Arnold was an 8-month old pot belly who taught me so much about love, devotion and companionship. I am devastated by his loss, but thank God daily for blessing me with the joy of having Arnold for his short life.

Anyone contemplating a pot belly as a pet should know that if you are a true pet lover and devote yourself to them, a pot belly will make the most wonderful friend. You will be assured of endless hours of fascination and entertainment as you both grow together in understanding the human/pot belly relationship. Words cannot describe this relationship and it can only be fully understood by experiencing it.

Arnold didn't know he was a pig -- he thought he was just another member of our family -- modeling his behavior through observing me, my wife, my two daughters and our beagles. He was convinced he was loved by all; and he was, even when he was ornery trying to just get our attention. He learned his name, how to sit and how to use the litter box all in the first week we had him (at 7 weeks old!).

He loved to sleep on your lap as you sat on the couch watching TV. He didn't care if he grew to weigh 45lbs, he still expected you to hoist him onto your lap at precisely 8:00 pm every evening where he would fall fast asleep within seconds after snuggling his wet nose between your neck and shoulder. If you didn't respond to his initial "honks" letting you know it was his nap time, he would bump your legs with his nose until you picked him up.

With his weight as it was, you couldn't hold him all evening as he preferred, so you had to slide him off onto the couch next to you where he would sleep for hours with all four legs and his nose sticking straight up in the air. He would snore as long as he could feel you next to him but would immediately wake up if you tried to leave the couch. We had hours of fun balancing objects like a salt shaker on his flat nose while he slept soundly.

Arnold helped me in all my chores around our five acres in the country. Just being there at my feet, interested in what I was doing made even the most mundane tasks enjoyable. When he was out roaming and foraging and you would call out his name, he would come running at top speed, honking the whole way until he got close to you where he would dodge you, zig zagging around with a few victory roles turning in circles before settling down and calmly walking up to you with his tail wagging as if to say (winking) "hah, got-cha."

He even helped me build a kit aircraft and a customized trailer to haul it around in. I was planning on taking him flying with me some day. He loved to play with my sockets and rolled them around on the shop floor. Just as I would struggle and get frustrated with some difficult task, Arnold would show up underneath the trailer, with his wet nose in my ear and honking -- seeming to say, "take a break and laugh with me for a while, that should make it all better." And it did, every time.

God's marvelous creations minister to us in the most special ways if we can just stop for a few moments and observe them. God used Arnold to teach us this very important lesson in life which we will never forget.

My wife and two daughters began to say that Arnold and I were so close that he had become the son that I never had in our family. It seemed that we could no longer have any kind of conversation in our family or with our friends without Arnold being a main topic. The neighborhood kids would make appointments to come visit Arnold and couldn't wait to come over and play with him. The people in our church even offered their thanksgiving through prayer for the ways Arnold touched our lives.

Arnold went most everywhere with us--Pet's Mart, Wal-Mart, birthday parties, Christmas vacation to Grandma's. He loved riding in the car/shopping basket and was a big hit everywhere he went. Arnold had become such an important part of our life that when we found out that our family would have to move to another state, we insisted that the contract on our new house be contingent on the homeowners' association approval of Arnold in writing before we would agree to purchasing in our prestigious neighborhood.

On the day we left our old home town, we had a going away lunch with our friends from church. Everyone there just had to go out to the truck where Arnold and all our other pet were and say goodbye. Arnold trusted me to take care of him and get him to his new home. Tragically, along the way, the wind blast from a semi knocked our trailers out of control and pushed our truck off a 40' bridge. We lost a big part of our family that day when our pets Arnold, Sweeti and Leanna were killed. I feel terrible for not being able to protect Arnold the way he trusted me to. However, I will be forever grateful for the fond memories of him which I will cherish forever.

Thank you for reading this and allowing me to share some of Arnold's life with you. If you decide that a pot belly is the right choice for you both, I pray that you will be rewarded in the same way my family was with Arnold. (oo)

Poem: Ernie - Heaven's Pig

There was a vacancy in heaven
that God just had to fill
keeping the angels company
not just anyone would fill the bill.

God looked all through heaven
and he could not find
a suitable companion
with a face sweet and kind.

When all the possibilities were exhausted
God turned His face toward earth
His eyes fell upon Ernie
with his pug face and his girth.

Then God spoke to Ernie
in a sweet and loving way
and asked him to please come home
to heaven this very day.

God said, "you’re my creation
and I need to call you back home,
for we have a need in heaven
no one can fill but you alone".

The angels gently ushered
Ernie into their midst
to where he now helps the angels
their missions to assist.

An Inspirational by Sharon Jean Updike
A gift to Sally and Wally in memory of Ernie.
September 9, 2000
All rights reserved, copyright H.I.S. Creations

Poem: The Flying Éclair

Lu Lu is in a frenzy,
And I know the reason why;
She's standing on the front lawn,
Looking up into the sky.

You see she hear a rumor,
About a flying éclair;
So now she's on the lookout,
Eyes fixed in a stare.

She was told to listen
For the sound the éclair makes;
Now she's starting to panic,
Her ears may need a second take.

She turned towards her mommy,
And said 'What do I do?
I know a candy wrapper sound,
And slicing veggies too.'

'Does it sound like dog food kibbles,
pouring in a bowl?;
What exactly is the sound?
I really need to know.'

'If I'm to catch this éclair,
Falling from the sky;
Should I not recognize the sound,
It might just fly right by?'

'So Mom, please, I beg you,
Tell me if you can;
What sound a flying éclair makes,
Cause I'm your precious Ham!'

A Hannah Hamm Original by
Sharon Jean Updike (August 14, 1999)
All rights reserved, copyright H.I.S. Creations

Poem: My Best Friend

I have a very special friend,
And I'm her best friend too
We have a unique relationship
Respect each other too.

My friend and I don't always agree,
We sometimes see things differently;
But when all is said and done,
Our hearts do blend becoming one.

My best friend has no hands or feet,
She with words, does not speak;
Neither does she have a nose or toes,
And a tail from her backside grows.

She has four hooves to get around,
And makes different grunting sounds;
We love each other unconditionally,
My pig and I, best friends are we.

An Inspirational by Sharon Jean Updike (August 1, 1999)
All rights reserved, copyright H.I.S. Creations

Poem: Hot and Humid

Porgy and Bess are complaining
It's so hot and humid too
Momma Sandy cannot read their minds
Oh, what is a pig mom to do?

Mom filled their pool with water
They have lots of shade
But this is one hot summer
And they can't even graze!

They love to roam out in the yard
And sleep under the tress
But this heat is getting to them
If we could just get a gentle breeze

Mom worries about them daily
And in the night time too
This heat has us all in a frenzy
You'd think our house was a zoo

Right now they are very thankful
Don't have to wake the ramp
It's much to hot to venture out
It would just make them pant

Surely they are thinking
Better make the best of it now
Enjoy the heat of the summer
And eating ice cream, wow!

A Hannah Hamm original by Sharon Jean Updike (July 24, 1999)
All rights reserved, copyright H.I.S. Creations

Poem: Give Me a Home

Give me a home, where the buffalo roam
And I'll show you where Dottie lives
Just make a right, at the buffalo site
And follow the sweet grazing pigs!

It won't be long, very far up the road
That you soon will see a sweet sight
For Flower is here, and Ziggy stays near
To guard the place all day and night

Dottie and Richard have no time alone
As their children stay right by their side
Their house is a home,
where their pets freely roam
And love fills the air, what a life!

A Hannah Hamm original by Sharon Jean Updike (July 27, 1999)
All rights reserved, copyright H.I.S. Creations