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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.
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. 
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?
Read about Oliver, Arnold, Arlo, and Woody...the "founding fourers!"