AUGUST 2011 Getting Acquainted


Living With Pigs (And Others) by Claire Stuart


Miniature potbellied pigs are


not good house pets, no mat- ter what you’ve heard. PIGS, A SANCTUARY was founded in 1992 to shelter abandoned, abused and unwanted, mini potbellied pigs, but it has since grown to include farm pigs and other farm and domestic ani- mals. Executive director Melissa


Susko has been with the shel- ter since 2002. She lives on the premises and is there 24-7 for the animals that share the farm. Miniature potbellied pigs


came onto the scene as exotic house pets over 20 years ago, billed as small and intelligent. They are small—for pigs—since farm pigs weigh about 500-600 pounds. However, the “min- iatures” weigh about 130-150 pounds at maturity, and most people hesitate to consider a dog that size. They are intelligent, so they are curious and easily bored. These traits can manifest in rooting up floors and tearing up furniture. Most important, they are


pigs! Pigs don’t perspire and must wallow to cool off. Pigs are herd animals with a hierar- chy, and it is important be top pig. Their human family is their herd. At around 18 months, a pig begins to challenge its herd for leadership—charging, snapping and head-butting. They chal- lenge anyone new who enters their territory, including guests of the human family. This destructive and aggres-


sive behavior soon led people to seek to get rid of their house pigs. Unfortunately, they are considered livestock and do- mestic animal shelters did not take them. The only other al- ternative was bacon and pork chops. Since these facts have been known for years, why are peo-


ple still trying to make these animals into house pets? Susko explains, “Now potbellies are being sold cheap at fairs and flea markets. They cost $1000 to $1500 at first, but now they’re selling for $20 and people are buying them on impulse.” To compound the problem,


Susko says that there are zoning issues. When people take a pig home, they learn that they are not allowed to keep livestock in most urban and suburban areas. Since shelters for farm animals are scarce, animals often come from great distances. “I get at least one call a


month,” says Susko. “Calls come from all around the country.” The animal population of the


sanctuary is about 400, includ- ing 125 miniature potbellies, about 50 farm pigs, 12 goats, 4 horses, 3 donkeys, about 20 dogs, and many cats. A dozen wild boars came from a wildlife rehabilitator in Colorado who had taken in some injured ani- mals, including some pregnant females. They gave birth to 50 babies, overwhelming the reha- bilitation facilities. Susko’s most important pri-


ority is to help area police and animal control personnel with seized animals in cruelty cas- es. She had just returned from picking up a rescued mastiff.


The enormous dog had spent his entire life on a four-foot chain, his only shelter the underside of a pickup truck. Except for pigs, she does not


take in owner-surrendered ani- mals. “We only take animals that we have space for and money to care for. We won’t overcrowd.” Operating the sanctuary is a


monumental task. There is a full- time farm manager, four paid part-timers and about a dozen volunteers. The animals must be fed and watered daily, water troughs changed and sanitized, cat rooms cleaned. Manure has to be raked by hand from pig fields; barn bedding has to be changed. Tusks and hooves of pigs have to be trimmed. Farm pigs and goats have a


20-acre field with a huge pond for wallowing; potbellies have eight acres. Pigs have barns where they can come and go as they wish. Old potbellies have their own smaller yards. Horses and donkeys have a field and barn. Dogs have large yards and houses, not kennels. Cats have a heated and air-conditioned building with a huge outdoor fenced play yard. Susko is a veterinary techni-


cian by profession, experienced with all sorts of animals, includ- ing equines and exotics. She had always been involved in rescue


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work, and wanted to work in a sanctuary. “I like this one be- cause there are so many differ- ent kinds of animals,” she says. She cares for the animals’


routine medical needs that don’t require a veterinarian. Veterinary students have spent time at the sanctuary for expe- rience, as have vet techs who need farm-animal hours. Susko commented with appreciation that Blue Ridge Veterinary As- sociates, experienced with farm animals, gives them a discount


on care. PIGS gets no federal, county,


or state money, and depends on private donations. It costs $23,000 a month to operate the sanctuary, barring any emer- gency. Pigs go through 20 tons of pig food a month. New animals must be isolated and a new iso- lation barn is now in progress, thanks to a grant. PIGS always welcomes donations and vol- unteers. Tours can be arranged. Visit their web site: www.pigs. org.


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