Story: Henry

A True Pig Story by Becky 

Thank you for your informative page on Pot Belly Pigs. I have one who is 9 years old this month and I must say it wasn't by choice either---hee hee. Henry is a 1995 Georgia Tech graduate. It took Henry all of 3 years to make it through Georgia Tech. He even became a SAE fraternity brother and was voted in as one of the favorite frat brothers during his stay at Georgia Tech.

It was with sadness that he had to leave them all and come home to his Grandma in June of 1995 while his Papa (my son, Tommy) went off to make a living. When Henry's Papa (my son) left him with me (Grandma), he almost grieved himself to death. It was so sad to see him going down hill so fast and Grandma didn't know what was wrong.

So, I called the vet in Atlanta and he explained the problem to me, which I found hard to believe at first. He told me that I needed to get on the floor and cuddle, hug and talk with Henry to convince him that he was going to be loved at Grandma's house as much as his Papa loved him, but there were limits for me---hee hee.

You see, his Papa (my son) slept with him for the 3 years he was in Atlanta. Yes, in the same bed too! From a little piglet to a grown 3 year old hog. So Henry had to get use to having a bed of his own with his own pillow and blankets all on the floor and not on a 4 poster bed. He also had to get use to sleeping alone!!! This took some getting use too, but Henry adjusted and now he is a member of the family and behaves well.

He has the same freedom that his friends the cats and dog have, to come though the pet door when ever he wants. He isn't even fenced in either, so he has the full benefit of the yard to play in. Henry is really good about not leaving the yard. He must have a built in sense of boundary as he doesn't leave the yard.

Henry is happy now with Grandma, but is getting old and some times his old joints hurt and he wants to sleep on the sofa where it is soft and warm. Grandma isn't all for this, but she does give in more often than not these days as he will look at her with those sad eyes and then up he goes.

That is the story of Grandma's inherited Grandson Henry, the pet pig.

Story: Coming Home: Wilbur's Story

A True Pig Story Sue Parkinson, Lil' Orphan Hammies

I'm really quite cute! OK, so my tongue hangs out of my mouth a little bit, noooo, I'm not sticking it out at you, I just can't seem to keep it in my mouth. But I don't see why that would be any reason for my family to leave me in the backyard and move away. Maybe they just forgot I was there, but the neighbor boys didn't. They came over everyday to feed me and give me water since no one lived at our house anymore.

Then someone told the boys about a pig sanctuary in Solvang called Lil Orphan Hammies because they saw an article in the paper once about it. So those boys picked me up and put me in the back of their pickup truck and away we went. I had no idea what was happening, but I knew I had better stay very still because I was in the back of a truck with the wind blowing on me.

When we finally stopped, I heard them asking a man at a gas station if they knew where Lil Orphan Hammies pig sanctuary was. Well being this is a one gas station town it seems everyone knows the pig lady, and they gave the boys the phone number. I heard them call and tell whoever they were talking to they were already in town with me in the back of their truck.

Well off we went again, but the next time we stopped, this crazy lady came out took one look at me and said how cute I was. She put her face right in mine and kissed me. Heck, she didn't even know me, but she kissed me, just like that. Who was this nut? Then she told the boys to follow her so off we go again.

OK, so it was an adventure and I obviously didn't have any say in the matter. I know this crazy lady wasn't thrilled to see I was in the back of a truck with no camper. But she figured I made it 3 hours on a freeway I'd make it 1 more mile to wherever they were taking me. Something called a Sanctuary.

When I got there I heard music and happy grunts. There were piggies just like me running all around and coming up to see who I was. Maybe I did fall out of the truck, but maybe I was in Hog Heaven! After all, there was music, flowers, trees and everyone was so happy. I was taken to a pen and given my own house, fresh food, water and blankets. OK, so maybe this wasn't Hog Heaven, but I liked it, I really liked it.

It was such a happy place. I only had to stay in the pen at night when I first got there, and I know why. Not all the other piggies are nice to the new kids on the block, some can be down right rude. But Sue always makes sure nobody gets hurt, and boy do they listen to her. I know one thing, she is the top hog there and she isn't even a pig. I over heard her say something about the hand that feeds ya. Whatever, all I know is I liked my new home.

Then one rainy day this family came for a visit. They kept coming back to me and they liked me. They thought I was so cute and so nice. Well what did they know. I am nice, after all, you don't want to mess with that hand that feeds you, right? Well the next thing I know, I'm being put in some funny little box. OK, so I could see thru it, and it was much easier than being moved the way those two neighborhood boys moved me. But where was I going. I didn't want to go anywhere, I was happy where I was, really happy. But I was going with these people who kept talking to me.

Well, here I am, in a new house with some strange people. Ahhhh, it wasn't so bad, they kept the goodies coming and I could sleep in the house or outside. Someone has to be top hog, and well they were sure easy to train, so I became boss hog of this place. But I was lonely for the music, the flowers, the trees, and my new friends I had made at that place they called Lil Orphan Hammies.

So I decided I wanted to go back. So today, I bit that kid they called their son, this loud little obnoxious child. I never liked him, never was going to and he didn't like me either. I just know he didn't, but I wasn't brought there to be a pet to him in the first place. It was his daddy that liked me the best. I just couldn't see spending any more time with this little creature so today when he was teasing me with the banana, I bit his chin. Not to hard, but hard enough to make his mama call Sue to come and get me.

YESSSSSS, it worked! I am on my way back to Lil Orphan Hammies. She told Sue she just couldn't have an animal who would hurt that teasing child of hers. I didn't really hurt him, just pinched him. I was making a statement in the only language I knew how, with my mouth. People sometimes just don't understand our language. So we have to take the next step. Of course I had other plans in mind when I did it and that was to get back to that wonderful place I was before.

I can't wait till they put me back in that traveling box, cause I know I'll be happy and understood where I was before I was brought here. I'm sure they will miss me, ya right, but I did hear her say how much they tried and how sorry they were that they didn't want me anymore. I never let Sue see this side of me at the sanctuary. Heck, I was to happy to be ugly like that to her, there I was an angel. That is why it is like Hog Heaven.

Sue makes it Hog Heaven for us there, that is why we want to stay there. Hmmm, I wonder if all my same friends will be there when I get back? Well, tomorrow I'll find out. Oh boy, I can't wait to go home.

Love Wilbur

A note from Sue
Every now and then we make a placement and it doesn't work. Wilbur will always have a home at the sanctuary, not that he will always stay, but we can learn from our mistakes. Wilbur became territorial in his new home when dad wasn't around. It's obvious Wilbur didn't like the child.

I am usually very very careful in my placements, especially when children are involved, but this time, Wilbur showed a side I never see at the sanctuary. When pigs are in herds it's sometimes hard to tell how they might be outside of it. As for Wilbur they visited with him often before the adoption and were really taken with him. He's been in the home for almost 6 months, but they have a fear of him now.

Sometimes you can tell it's just better to take them back, then to try and work with them to keep the pig. It's not fair to either one. I know I offer a real Hog Heaven to my pigs, after all, I want them to feel like it is their home. But dog gawn it, it doesn't mean I want them to bite their way back. Live and Learn.

Poem: Happy Mother's Day

We sometimes wake you up too early
and sometimes make you mad
But we don't really mean it
we don't mean to be bad.

We sometimes get into mischief
and argue with each other
But, one thing we agree on
we're happy you're our Mother.

When we need attention
we give a little shove
That is our way of showing
that we give you all our love.

So, Mom, on this Mother's day
we will try to be good, not rude
We love you more than anything
except for maybe FOOD!!

ZIGGY AND FLOWER

Poem: My Pigger, My Child

My kids grew up,they all left home,
Only my husband kept me from being alone.

I seen this pig,at a lady's house,
I had to have one, quick as a mouse.

I acquired a baby hog, but she wasn't the same,
I soon found out, I had the wrong pig name.

So off I went, to find a potbelly pig,
I heard they didn't, get very big. 

She was silver and white, and oh so small,
And grew big fast, but not too tall.

I get mad at her, and she gets mad at me,
But I rub her butt, and give her belly rubs for free.

At night it's time to tuck her in under her quilt,
I think what a great relationship we have built.

The love I feel for her, is not to be taken mild,
She's my pigger and my new child!

By Sherry Collier, for Smudge

Poem: Christmas from Bently Battoe's Point of View

His stocking is hung with the greatest of care
Not that this means he will leave it there.
He snuffles for presents and we learned from the past,
If we don't hide them well, they will not last.

The nativity scene is set out in a row,
Why he must rearrange it we do not know.
He moves the stone animals out of their beds,
And uses the wise men to rest his head.

Maybe he feels that his scene is lacking,
For there are no porkers to give him backing.
Ben gazes at us with a baleful eye,
We can almost hear him asking Why...?

Should there not be a pig in this special scene
Of love, compassion, and man's greatest dream?
Of course, we say, you should not be left out,
As we place a stuffed pig with a big rubber snout.

Our Christmas story is different by choice,
As we feel our Bently deserves a voice.
When it comes to love and the Christmas spirit,
A pig beats a camel no matter how you hear it.

Ben knows that God in His infinite wisdom,
Created pigs for just this reason.
A laugh, a chuckle, love and devotion,
What more could we ask of God's world in motion.

We humans could learn a lesson well taught,
By porkers in general who give us this thought.
A laugh a day, a clear conscience at night,
A slight forgiven, a wrong made right.

These things so easy for our porcine friends,
seem to be hard lessons learned for mortal men.
In this season of Christmas, love and light,
Should we not try harder to do things right.

Bently watches me write this as he lays at my feet,
Thinking all of this rhetoric really is neat.
Best wishes to everyone he sends by the bunch,
And tells me "Enough already" it's time for my lunch!

Phyllis Battoe
December 1994