Pot-bellied pigs make great pets, if they have the right care
Debbie Ann | Contributor
A few weeks ago, an urgent call came in to our facility from a person needing help: they had two family pot-bellied pigs that became parents to four piglets in September. Although they would have loved to keep them, it just wasn’t possible.
After careful consideration and planning, a decision was made to welcome the four little piggies to the Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary. Our mission at GLRS is to provide a safe haven for abandoned, abused and neglected domestic rabbits as well as other animals. Those “other” animals would be our resident cats and pigs.
We currently have two feline residents (Squanto and Owen) that live on that property. We also currently have four Vietnamese pot-bellied adult pigs (Arnold, Arlos, Woody and Oliver).
Before arriving at the sanctuary, the newest residents of GLRS made a stop at the vet to get spayed and neutered. I should mention that getting pigs spayed or neutered at a young age is a must, and it must be done by a veterinarian. Neutering the pig will help reduce aggressive behavior in the males, as with other male animals.
All pigs were tucked into their new bed last night and appeared to be doing well. They are being monitored closely while they recover.
Debbie Ann / Contributor
Pot-bellied pigs are gaining popularity as pets, and while they are sweet, intelligent, readily trained (they can be house trained, leash trained, and will learn a few tricks) and can be playful, special consideration needs to be taken regarding their physical and psychological needs.
These creatures can live anywhere from 12-15 years and need proper housing and training. Pigs can be litter-trained quite successfully.
Social by nature, pot-bellied pigs love their people. They can get bored easily. Like other animals, if boredom sets in, destructive behavior can occur. Pot-bellied pigs are highly intelligent, ranking fifth on the scale of intelligent creatures, and because of that, they are extremely curious. They love to explore everything.
There are other considerations, like zoning laws and whether or not you have a veterinarian who sees pot-bellied pigs in the practice, and more.
Debbie Ann | Contributor
We are glad to be able to welcome the young pigs to the sanctuary and are hoping that by them being there we will have the opportunity to educate the public more about these wonderful creatures and how they can make great pets.
Debbie Ann is a volunteer at Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary (GLRS) in Willis, Mich. and welcomes your contact via e-mail. The facility is hosting a "Valenswine" Open House on Sunday, Feb. 13 from 1-4 p.m. to welcome the pigs' arrival. Get a tour of the sanctuary, and a sneak a peek at the newest residents (who still need names).