If I sound angry...I AM. Breeders are breeding record numbers and the buyers are dumping record numbers, both expecting sanctuaries and rescues to clean up their mess as they step away from their responsibilities. The following sentence applies to a good 95% of owners wanting to dump their pigs.
Your lack of planning and forethought does not necessarily constitute an emergency on our part!
I am no longer accepting pigs. Suggestions are listed below as resources to help place unwanted pigs. I do not have the time to network to place them.
Sanctuaries SHOULD be able to use their limited space and resources to help humans and animals with REAL needs, such as family emergencies. We should not be overwhelmed with animals dumped because their owners failed to do their homework or became bored. Your impulse purchase, irresponsibility, failure to make good choices, and failure to educate yourself when correct information is readily available demonstrates an incredible lack of maturity that may cost the life of the pet you claim to "love dearly".
If you have plans to "rescue" a pig make darn sure you have a home for it beforehand. There is more to saving a pig than buying it to prevent it going to slaughter. People continually "rescue" pigs with no idea or plan for what they will do with it or where it will go once it's in their possession. Sanctuaries are overflowing, so, while the intentions may be good, the fact is you may be stuck with a pig you cannot keep and it has nowhere to go...so it is NOT rescued...it is simply moving from the frying pan into the fire. Don't assume a sanctuary will be able to help, especially if time is short. We have no space available.
Do not call us to take your pet a few days before you have to move and expect us to be able to pull off a miracle.
Do not use threats of euthanasia, slaughter, abandonment, and the like to coerce and force us into taking on the responsibility for an animal you choose to dump.
Do not become angry with US because we have no space or resources to accommodate your unwanted animal or one you "rescued". We do what we can with the resources available and few of us have financial support from outside.
You need to suck it up and make it right so we can help the animals TRULY in need.
We sanctuaries are overwhelmed with people wanting to be rid of their pigs...most because, out of ignorance, the buyer bought into the teacup/micro pig LIE and, as nature intended and the rest of us know to be true, the pig has exceded the breeder's promise of 35 pounds. Some even claim 10 pounds as an adult. It takes a special kind of stupid to fall for that, but people do it every day and expect us to clean up after them.
Most of us get calls several times a week...at larger sanctuaries several requests a day might come in. In the first 6 days of January 2016 I have been contacted to take 14 (FOURTEEN) pigs!! Shelters that used to see only dogs and cats now regularly get pigs and are ill equipped to handle them. Many don't even know how to tell sex, let alone if a pig is neutered. Some are placed, some are auctioned to the highest bidder...many are euthanized. If the pig shows any temperament, health or weight issues its chances of being placed are greatly reduced. Most people are unprepared to handle a temperamental pig. Only a very small percentage are legitimate needs such as family emergencies, medical issues, etc. The vast majority of "dumps" are by people who fail to take responsibility for their choices and the pig they took on with no more forethought than they'd give to buying a head of cabbage.They've failed to research, plan ahead, educate themselves and prepare to make a suitable place for a truly unique pet. It's a shame that society has become such a disposable one that innocent lives have no meaning to so many people. It's disgusting and shameful. We see pigs DAILY posted and needing a home quickly. Over half of the comments will be similar to,"someone, please save this pig!" Would someone like to tell me who "someone" is??? All of the someones I know are overflowing. And the numbers of "someones" are dwindling. The average age of sanctuary owners os 55+...a vast number over 60. Just how long are we supposed to keep taking in unwanted pigs?
I don't usually go on a rant but can someone tell me, please, when will people begin to start taking responsibility for their actions? Every day there are more dumped (NO OTHER WORD APPLIES) pigs needing homes...threatened with being sent to shelters, slaughter, euthanasia, released in the woods, advertised free on Craigslist where they'll go for slaughter or be used as dog bait, etc...Some of these pigs are even only a couple of months old but the excuses are always the same...Only rarely are we asked to help someone with a legitimate need.
MOVING...really?? You had no idea when you got the pig a month or two ago that you'd be moving soon or evicted for getting caught with it??? But you'll move the dog and cat and abandon the pig. Why is that??
YOU'RE NOT ZONED...really?? So why did you not do your due diligence and check that out BEFORE getting that pig? It's not at all difficult. Can you dial a phone?
DON'T HAVE TIME FOR IT...really?? But the sanctuaries you expect to bail you out do? Most of us work full time to support the pigs we take in. Most of us are private and do not receive funding or grants to defray expenses. What makes you think we have more time to give your pig love and attention that you "can't". We work full time and then take on the full time job at home of caring for these pigs before and after our "regular" jobs. We're all pretty strapped for cuddle time with your little buddy that you "LOVE SO MUCH" but we're saving because you're dumping.
IT GOT TOO BIG...really?? You'd have to be some kind of STUPID to believe the lies of the breeders that a PIG will be 30 pounds as an adult. More than enough FACTUAL information is available that anyone with one iota of common sense won't fall for the insanity of "teacup/micro" pigs. Why did you not bother to do your research?
IT HAS BEHAVIORAL ISSUES...really?? News flash...if you're not willing to put in the time to properly train your pig you ...SHOULDN'T GET ONE!
OH...IT'S NOT SPAYED OR NEUTERED??...really?? That leads to behavioral issues...oh, but you can't afford to have it done. We can?? We're already paying vet bills on many pigs, not just one. It is your responsibility to provide the needed vet care for your pig, which includes spaying and neutering.
BUT YOU DON'T HAVE A VET...really?? Acquiring an animal 101...you need to find a vet FIRST. Don't wait until something is wrong and then, in a panic, post for help online. You'll get all KINDS of responses from the utterly useless and ridiculous to downright dangerous...and a few that are actually helpful or at least won't cause harm. Are you able to sort them out? That's what a VET is for. We can try to help but you absolutely need to have a vet.
IT'S DESTRUCTIVE...really?? A bored pig IS destructive. They need to be outside doing what pigs do, rooting in the dirt, wallowing, grazing, exploring
BUT YOU HAVE NO YARD...really?? Then you shouldn't have a pig! You cannot expect a pig to live in an apartment day in and day out, maybe confined to a crate or bathroom, and not become bored and start to find the wrong kinds of things to do. Oh...and many full time indoor pigs also develop leg and foot problems because they're living on an unnatural surface.
YOU CAN'T KEEP IT CONTAINED...really?? Pigs require a GOOD fence to keep them home...an even better fence if they're not spayed or neutered. If you cannot/will not do what you need to do to contain it and keep it safe you have no business owning one. And a good fence is NOT a chain link dog kennel.
YOUR KID CAME HOME WITH IT/BOYFRIEND GAVE IT AS A GIFT...really?? And you don't approve. That's OK and the solution is simple. You pack that kid's ass in the car and take the pig BACK TO THE BREEDER and get the $$$ back. Better teach the kid UP FRONT that acquiring an animal isn't done on a whim than to teach the kid later that it's OK to dump that same animal when interest wanes or said kid goes on to college and you don't want the responsibility. Oh, but YOU bought it, that's different
...then you do what's right and set a good example by keeping it for its entire natural LIFE! BTW...expect 12-15 years on average, even up to 20. Can't make that commitment? Then don't get the pig.
And we don't care that you are pregnant. Congratulations, but even if it's a surprise pregnancy it is not a valid excuse to dump your pig. If one couple I know could build a barn for their 10+ pigs and remodel their house in preparation for an surprise baby while working outside of the home and caring for other animals as well, the "I'm pregnant" excuse just isn't going to fly.
And last but not least...you want help with your pig and expert, experienced help/advice is offered, but it is not what YOU want to hear, so excuses are made, you get angry, and keep searching for someone to say what you want to hear, rather than what will actually resolve the problem. Suck it up and listen to the people who have dealt with these issues for a decade or two or three. If in fact you "love" the pig as you say, drop the ego and do what's right by the life you chose to bring into your home.
So, if I sound angry, yes, I am. The breeders are mass producing fantasies and the ignorant are slurping them up and expecting someone else to clean up after them. I, for one, am done and am NOT ACCEPTING ANY MORE PIGS. So if you want to get rid of your pig, that you "love dearly", here are my suggestions...
Return the pig to the breeder and don't take "no" for an answer. There's a novel idea! And while you're at it tell the entire world WHO that breeder is and how big your teacup/micro pig REALLY got despite the promises. Call them out. Don't be a coward and let them hide and sell even more pigs. Complain to the USDA, your Attorney General...whomever. GO PUBLIC and help stop this abuse.
Contact one of the following on Facebook and list the pig there...
Lulu's Pig Network
Pig Placement Network
Pre-Loved Pigs
There are others as well, if you look.
I do not have time to network for you. Provide DETAILED information about the pig and whether you are able to transport. Do whatever it takes to get it a loving, secure home. It is the very least you can do after taking responsibility for it initially.
