The Potbelly Pigs of GLRS

August 28, 9:16 pm

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The Potbelly Pigs of GLRS

In the Fall of 2006 Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary expanded its animal family to include potbelly pigs. You may ask, “why pigs?”

Like rabbits, pigs are gravely underestimated and misunderstood. They are superbly intelligent animals, with distinctive and strong personalities. They are sensitive and playful, messy and clean. But the poor pig suffers terribly in our society. “Farm” pigs are raised in confinement for slaughter. Potbelly pigs are often purchased as house pets, and then when they begin acting like pigs, they are turned loose, roasted at a barbecue, or sent to the slaughterhouse.


Arnold	Oliver	Woody	Arlo

Potbelly pigs are “miniature” in comparison to farm pigs, which can grow to be 1000 pounds. Potbellies reach their adult size at about three years of age, and this size varies from a low of 60 pounds to more than 200 pounds. Not many people are willing to live with a full-grown pig in their house! Pigs innately wish to root, or dig up soil with their snouts. If they are kept indoors, they will root up the carpet, vinyl flooring, and anything else they can find. Four Potbelly Pigs Pigs are pretty much always hungry (this is one stereotype that is true). Many pigs learn to open cupboards and refrigerators and help themselves to the contents. They will eat as much as you let them, and can grow so overweight that pockets of fat eventually grow around their eyes to such an extent that they are blinded. Pigs are also herd animals, and herd animals fight for dominance. So when a pig is kept in a house with a human family, he will view the people as members of the herd and try to fight them. This aggressive behavior can be very alarming and is one of the biggest causes of people giving up their potbelly pigs.

But when potbelly pigs are allowed to be pigs, they are hilarious to watch, fun to interact with, and downright charming. Who could possibly resist a pig plopping down on his side for a belly rub?

Arlo The sanctuary had received a call from a woman living in Detroit. A friend had given her husband a baby potbelly pig for his birthday! The pig was fine for the moment, living in their garage and too small to make much noise or cause any trouble. But pigs are illegal in Detroit (as in most cities) because they are considered farm animals. Not only that, this couple knew that they would not be able to make little Oliver happy as he grew older. He would be lonely without another pig, and without anyone around all day long while his people were at work. As it happened, we had recently been talking about possibly rescuing a pig if we should hear of one needing our help. We had plenty of room at the sanctuary for a pig. The old Reno yard, unusable for rabbits because of flooding, was perfect for pigs. Mud puddles and shallow ponds are sought by pigs, after all!

So early in November 2006 we picked up Oliver and spoiled him rotten in the vestibule of the house at the sanctuary. Oliver was so small he literally shivered from the cold weather. He seemed to need a heated house until he grew bigger and more robust. Since the vestibule was pretty much empty we set up a bed and a litterbox there for Oliver, and he quickly made himself at home.

Woody But after a couple weeks we realized that he was already showing signs of loneliness. We needed to get him a friend. Miraculously, we received a phone call about a pet pig who was neglected and left to roam the rural neighborhood, where dogs chased him and cars nearly hit him. Even worse were the nose rings. Arnold’s owners had put metal rings right through his snout as a means of preventing him from rooting up their lawn. This is a terribly abusive practice, because rooting is a natural and necessary activity for a pig, just as playing is for a child. Moreover, one of the rings had caused an infection which was not being treated. So Arnold came to live at the sanctuary, where our veterinarian promptly removed his nose rings and neutered him, and he moved in with Oliver. The first couple of days were rough, as Arnold was twice as big as Oliver and thus they were not equally matched as fighters. But soon the two became buddies, sleeping side-by-side and speaking to each other in soft snorts and whines. They were adorable and volunteers and visitors were enchanted by them.

Oliver So when we were asked to take in a couple of pigs who had been abandoned on a Northern Michigan farm, we said yes. Of about 125 pigs who had been on the farm, only 60 survived starvation and the frigid temperatures of the Upper Peninsula. In May, 2007, after spending a few months recuperating at a rescue facility, Arlo and Woody were brought to the sanctuary. They were about four years old but tiny! Definitely no more than 60 pounds, their growth had been stunted by malnutrition. But after months of love and proper care, not only did they gain weight, but they lost their fear of humans, coming right up to the volunteers and staff for food.

All four “oinkers,” Arnold, Oliver, Woody, and Arlo, live in a shady yard with the mud that pigs need to keep cool in the summer. They have lots of soft dirt and grass to root up, kiddie pools to rinse off in, and many visitors ready to give belly-rubs. We enjoy having these amusing souls as much as they enjoy being with us. If you come out to visit, be sure to give a pig a belly rub and a kiss on the snout!

GLRS is able to give these wonderful pigs a loving home at the sanctuary thanks to our supporters. If you would like to help us care for Arnold, Oliver, Woody, and Arlo, please consider a sponsorship. Thank you!!