Story: My Rescue Story

I wanted to share my story of a pig rescue. In Hawaii I had seen cute little pot belly pigs and had wanted one for years. They were so expensive way back that I never would spring for one. Also, we live in a county that doesn't allow them as pets.

I had a friend who had 2 of them and one day he called to tell me he knew someone who had a pig I could have for free if I came and got it. I was so excited! I had a pen at my dad's farm I could use. I was set to go. All was arranged and off we went to get her.

I had talked to the man who owned the pig and he had told me that she was very big. I didn't care. However, when I saw how huge she was I wondered for a second if I really wanted her. She looked like a volkswagen standing in this utility trailer. He had baited her into it on the side of a bank. She was so huge that she touched the ground from the tip of her nose to the back of her butt.

I found out that the man's dad got old baked goods from a grocery store and it wasn't unusual for her to eat 5-6 whole pies a day! Plus she wasn't penned and she went to every neighbor's home and got all their scraps. She had been a child's pet, but when she got so huge she had to be cut out of her doghouse that was it for her. We backed the truck up to the trailer and she walked in baited with more food.

We had made an enclosure in the back of the truck with four pallets wired together. I had no idea that she was so fat there was no way she could lift her legs high enough to get out. She would stand up the whole way as we drove, but flop down if we stopped. We finally got to my cousin's farm to pick up my dad and nobody could believe how huge she was. To this day my dad says she is a full sized regular hog.

We got to the farm and backed up to her pen. We made a ramp out of pallets and she wouldn't walk down it. Her feet would slide into the very small crack where the tailgate meets the truck body. We stuffed the crack with everything we could to bridge that gap, but she knew it was there and refused to move. We tried making her lie on a tarp for a belly rub with the idea of quickly dragging her down, but she wouldn't allow it.

We tried everything and I am not sure how long we coaxed and begged and cursed. Finally my husband got really mad and sick of it and threw the tarp over her and yelled some obscenities and started pushing her down the ramp. She was whirling and screaming and I am sure she could be heard for 50 miles! It was awful and all I could think of was her little legs breaking under the weight.

As she neared the bottom I realized that the pallets we planned to use to herd her into the pen were tied to the truck and weren't going to get undone as fast as we would need them. She got to the ground and tried to take off. I knew if she got away she would never stop moving! We were pushing and she was screaming, my husband was cussing a blue streak and I was crying that she was going to get hurt.

Finally by some miracle we got her into the pen and my husband fell against her shed and took a long time to get his breath. Put it this way...if we had been on video we could have won that big check! It seemed to take forever and we were all worn out and I was laughing and my dad was waiting for my husband to kill me.

My dad swore she was a regular farm hog, she was too huge to be anything else. But I said no, she is an overfed pot belly and had I not gotten her she would have died for sure. He said it should be a crime for anyone to feed anything like that and he put her on a diet. No more cakes and pies.

She could hardly walk at all...she would take a little step and then steady herself and wobble until she could take the next one. Her eyes couldn't be seen. I was convinced she couldn't even see. Once she lost weight the skin around her eyes was pink, even tho she was totally black.

She has lost weight and she can now run like the wind. She can also get out of her pen and run all over looking for treats. More than once I have had to walk her back home half a mile using cake crumbs as bait. We finally put electric wire around the inside of her pen to keep her safe.

I look at her and I think she is lucky to have a home and real food to eat. I would love to add a pig, but I worry about fighting. I would like a smaller pig and i am not sure how that would work out. just wanted to share my piggy rescue story. :)

By Wyckedwtch@aol.com

Poem: Pigberries

Poem: Diamond Baby

My diamond gem
not so rough in form.
There is no norm.
Your delightful structure
driven to capture
every moment of rapture.

Mama's best deal.
Your soul to heal.
Your ways so smart.
Your essence an art.
God's gift to man
You are perfect in all the land.

For you dear friend
I pray for all amends.
Life is so dear.
May you never fear.
Never a tear to fall.
For you could be
God's first call.

This poem is 100% original created June 2006. Submitted to Belly Draggers Ranch newsletter 
poem contest and inspired  by my  two pigs and my belief that all sentient creatures are precious. 
Ann K. Sibary

Story: Gordo's Story

A True Pig Story by Shirley Howard

This is the memoriam I sent to friends and relatives:

Gordo was brought home in September 2003 He and his sister, Babe, were 3 weeks old. The previous owner was going to throw them out because they were part wild hog. I couldn't stand it and I brought the pair home. Gordo was injured in November 2003 and taken to the vet. His hip was hurt and I had to give him shots twice per day to help him. He never recovered but he did father Ethyl's first litter. He was a sweet pig and will greatly missed as he left this earth April 17, 2006.

He is survived by his owner, Shirley; his wife, Ethyl; his children, Gracie Allen, Hambone, Teddyboar and Lucky. He has two daughters that were adopted out and live in Kileen. He has 3 grandchildren, Little Ethyl 3, Brewster and Alvin. He was preceded in death by a son and daughter that died at birth and 5 grandchildren that died shortly after birth.

Gordo will be missed beyond belief and I hope that he is with the God of Pigs in heaven.

Internment will be in the pet cemetery on the home place.

I have a story about Gordo my half pot belly and half wild hog.

In September of 2003, a man was going to throw out 2 little black baby pigs at the age of 3 weeks old. They were half black pot belly and half wild hog. I couldn't stand it since I already had 3 at the time and fell in love. Babe was solid black and Gordo had a little blotchy pink and black nose. As they grew up, the wildness in them would never let me hold and touch them but they liked being fed when I held the bowl.

Ethyl, Fred and Bobaloo took these little orphans under their wings as did my cat, Star. Wherever the pigs went, there was my little Star Kittie faithfully watching out for the new arrivals.

In November, I noticed that Gordo was laying in his bed and not moving. I finally got him and took him to the vet (of course the vet could handle him with no problem). She didn't see any real problem but he did have a noticeable limp in his hind leg. She gave me shots to give him daily. He lived in a pen I built on my back porch around the large dog house (dogs got kicked out). I put Babe in the pen with him and a light in the house for warmth.

He seemed to get better and he went on his merry way after about 3 weeks of nurturing and being fed up with the enclosure.

I scheduled him to be neutered and he went through that well. 2 months later I couldn't figure out what was wrong with Ethyl. I had to take her to the vet and she got a sonogram. Figured out what was wrong. Gordo had fathered babies at the age of 3 months old. Must have been right before I took him for surgery. You have to remember I did not know they could breed at 3 months old. They were my first pigs.

As Gordo grew, he still had a slight limp in his hip area. He did not seem in pain but after nearly 3 yr., it became very bad and the vet only thought it was arthritis from the injury. (They are only vets that do exotic animals around this area).

On April 17, 2006, the decision was to let Gordo rest in peace as it was best for him. His suffering was becoming too great. I still have 11 black pots (8 part wild hog because of their dad) and 1 white true mini. They are my love and my life.

Bobaloo could not be found this morning for feeding. After searching, I found him lying on Gordo's grave and he is still there after 4 hrs. He will only eat and drink there so I take it too him until I can fence the area off. So sad.

Story: Kirby's Tail

Some men have dogs. Some men have salt water fish. My boyfriend has a pot belly pig. I found this to be interesting, even funny when he put his snout to the phone or sent me a picture of what looked like a surreal animal by the pool or laying on the kitchen floor.

All of this was great in a long distance relationship. All of this was great until my boyfriend became my fiancé and it was moving in time.

I had never seen a pot belly in person. And I am ashamed to admit that before I met Kirby I went so far as to look up the life expectancy of pot bellies on the internet. I was terrified and didn't know how to handle one. Not realizing how ignorant I was.

I politely smiled and looked at him from several paces away with bewildered curiosity. It just seemed so strange. Then again so did a kayak in the middle of the living room in place of a couch.

The excitement of starting a life together mixed with the quirks of a man, his pot belly, and yellow Labrador left little room for boredom. I slowly tried to take it all in from a distance.

Then one morning as I came out of the shower Kirby was in the bathroom door staring at me. At least I think he was staring. I tried to make out his eyes as I modestly reached for a towel. My fiancé was out walking the dog, so it was just me and him.

If I wasn't mistaken there seemed to be a smirk on his face which said, "What are you doing here?"

When I first met Kirby I tried to get close to him and must have scared him because he snapped at my legs. Obviously he didn't like me and now it was just the two of us.

I was too scared to ask him to leave so I just turned to the mirror and whistled to myself hoping that he would get bored and meander into another room. But he didn't, he just stared.

Then as I began to put lotion on my legs he advanced. To my surprise he snorted my legs which both tickled and knocked me to the floor. As it turned out Kirby was a fan of lotions, scented candles, and lavender oil. How could I resist such exquisite taste? We bonded.

Now I give him lavender massages and he snuggles me like a hot water bottle which is a God send for cramps and the thermostat wars that go on in the house.

I didn't realize how intelligent, warm, and loving these beautiful creatures are. His ears also feel like velvet.

We use diapers instead of a litter box and I nearly fell out of the chair one day when I saw Kirby pick up a diaper with his mouth, place it on the floor and then pee on it. Contrary to many myths our yellow lab Dakota absolutely adores him and protects him like a little brother. Of course they're both still young so they chase each other around the house like two year olds and the other day Kirby's snout put a hole in the wall. But I find that lots of love and lavender keep us all happy.

By Shaunte Shayde

Poem: Pigs In The Parlor

Story: Feeding Time At Janet's Place

A True Pig Story by Meri Martin

Just wanted to let everyone know about Janet's pigs....they are all liars, cheats, and sneaks!! It's the truth!!! Janet sent me out to feed night before last......all by myself. She's told me for months that every pig knows where it belongs and will go right into it's pen and wait to be fed.
Yeah, right!!!

They must have all had a collective mind far* the other night. It had to be them as I'm sure I left my "I am a sucker" sign in my house under Jimmy's careful watch. So, I go out with great expectations that everyone will cooperate like Janet said they would.

Matilda was cool, and the Babes....everything okay so far. On to the front pen with 6 pigs in it.....someone forgot how to count.  LOL Ten pigs crowded around the trough. At this point I'm not even sure any of them belonged in there! With the help of the pen police, Buddy BadAss, we got that pen all worked out. Of course by then Matilda was done with her dinner and looking for more. I'm trying to latch the gate while she's trying to move it out of the way. But we got through it.

Then, I figure by this time everyone else is in their proper places and I can begin feeding in earnest. I couldn't have been more incorrect!! I found 10 pigs, 4 chickens, and 3 peacocks where there's supposed to be 4 pigs. I look outside the pen and realize 2 of the pigs who belong here are out there staring in.

So, we finally got all of that straightened out and off to the next pen. Nine bowls mean 8 pigs. Did you know pigs can't count???? There were at least 2 pigs for every bowl plus some wanderers. Pen police helped me out here too-sorta. LOL

By the time I got to the last pen, I turned around to see I had several pigs with me who had been following me around eating everybody else's food and having a great time doing it. Sausage, the pig with 5" long legs was there, so was Blue Eyes and deaf Billie Jean and they were all using their "disabilities" to selfish purposes.

I looked at Sausage who was running from bowl to bowl and I said "I thought you got fed in the barn because you had a hard time traveling up and down the stairs?" She just looked at me like "Yeah, don't give my little secret away, okay?" Blue Eyes was staying in the shadows as I'm sure her light colored eyes are very light sensitive... yeah right! She was hiding so I wouldn't notice she'd eaten in every pen so far!

Billie Jean: "Oh, did I step on your foot and break your toes trying to get to that dish of food??? I'm deaf so I just didn't hear your blood curdling scream. You know, my loss of hearing is due to a nutritional imbalance, so the more you give me the better my hearing may become. Of course there's only a .000000000000000000001% chance of that happening but, hey, let's try it, okay????"

By the time I got up to Janet's house two hours had gone by and my boys hadn't even been fed yet!!! Janet greets me with "Did everyone get fed?" All I could say is I think so, I hope so, I'm not sure. I'm going to bed now, night." LOL What a night that was!!!!

Looking back, I realize everyone of them except Winston (he doesn't associate with pigs, is NOT a pig, and how dare you feed me pig chow!) are liars, cheats, and sneaks.....double dippers!!!! They didn't care who's food they ate as long as it wasn't there's and that they got theirs too! They acted like a bunch of pigs!

Meri, who hopes tonight will go a bit smoother – Janet made me a map!!!!