Abandoned Miniature Pigs - Educating Yourself and Others

Filed Under (Micro Pigs, Miniature Pig Breeds, Pet Pig Adoption, Teacup Miniature Pigs, Things to Know about Miniature Pigs) by Dave

miniature-pig-teacup-pictureAlong with all the pain suffered by people the world over due to the current economic crisis, it’s our pets (and pet miniature pigs) who are suffering more than most of us can imagine. Abandonment and shelter drop-offs are reaching record highs while adoptions are suffering record lows. Now, more than ever, it is time for us to be responsible pet lovers and do the right things by remembering that a pet pig does not have a voice. We must be their advocates.You can do the most for these (and other) lovable animals by educating your friends and family. Hopefully the information will stick and they’ll pass it on should they ever hear of a friend considering the purchase of a miniature pig based solely on the “cute” factor.

To start with, a pet should never be purchased if adoption is a viable option. In the case of mini pigs, the relatively small number of breeders make purchasing vs. rescuing less of a concern than with dogs or cats. That’s not to say that it excuses you from doing some research. Many miniature pig owners find themselves in way over their heads and wind up abandoning their pigs when they grow older (and larger) than the owners expected. A search for a pot belly pig rescue should be your first step before you even consider buying from a breeder.

The “surprise by size” motive for abandonment is still among the more common reason for owners giving up their miniature pigs. This is a particular problem as some breeders push “micro” or “teacup” breeds and don’t educate buyers to make them aware that the animal WILL grow to normal proportions. Alternatively, the breeder may be responsible and try to educate the buyer but the buyer simply doesn’t listen or consider the implications of an eventual 80-120 pounds of pig packed into the comparative body size of a medium dog.

Worse than either of those are those breeders who under-nourish miniature pigs to keep them unreasonably small. Consumers are left with either a sickly animal (which may be abandoned due to associated medical expenses) or a mini pig who suddenly balloons in weight once it is provided adequate feed in the new owner’s home (taking them off guard and unprepared to contend with the animals true and natural size)

To help stave off the irresponsible purchase of pigs marketed as “micro” or “teacup,” let your family and friends know that there really is no such animal. One common example of irresponsibility in this area is the prolific spread of the picture at the beginning of this post showing a “teacup” pig. This began circulating in March of 2008 after a creative breeder took pictures of his “micro” pig by a teacup. An unfortunate trend was born.

What we’re left with is a bunch of uneducated consumers wow’d by the cute factor (which this undeniably is) without the education to realize that these little piglettes will eventually become 80-120 pounds of pure, compact miniature pigs when they grow up. Most animals are adorably small shortly after birth. But while most of us understand that a cute Great Dane puppy is going to grow to monstrous proportions, fad-buyers just can’t conceive of how much animal the mini pig in that picture is going to become.

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Comments

Adrienne on 14 June, 2009 at 6:40 pm #

I am looking to find a Guinea Hog or African Pygmy pig. Can someone tell me how to find a rescue group in need of adoptions? I cannot find anything on who has all these pigs in need of homes. I am looking for two if possible. I live in a very large home on 8.5 acres in the country. Thank You!


Dave on 16 June, 2009 at 7:12 pm #

Adrienne - Give us an idea of where you live and maybe one of my visitors will be able to help you. Should you happen to be in Virginia, write or call:

Miniature Pig Rescue
11323 Scotts Mill Road
Culpeper, VA
540-937-5229
rhoyle@minipigs.org


jeanette on 2 August, 2009 at 10:04 pm #

My husband and I are interested in a mini pig or tea cup piglet. please email me on how to rescue & adopt one. Thank you


Val Toolsie on 6 October, 2009 at 11:50 pm #

I am interested in a mini or tea cup piglet. Please help me in finding one to adopt or rescue. I live in MN.

Thank you.


Terryn on 9 October, 2009 at 3:57 am #

I am very very interested in a teacup pig, could you PLEASE email me about how i could get one in NEW ZEALAND.
Thank you very much :)


Laura Ware on 14 October, 2009 at 11:03 pm #

Do you know any places in North Carolina where we could rescue a pig?


Jess on 4 November, 2009 at 7:10 pm #

My family and I are interested in bringing a small mini pig/tea cup piglet into our home. Where would we be able to find out more information?


brittany on 20 November, 2009 at 1:33 am #

I would love to find out where to adopt a juliana. :)


john maynard on 20 November, 2009 at 4:46 am #

me and my life partner would love to have a little pig to love and spoil we have a cat shes 18 and the love of my life we want a little pig soon so she can meet him or her before she go to kitty heaven please tell us how to adopt atiny pig


Klaudia on 25 November, 2009 at 2:00 am #

Hi there. :] I am interested in adopting a tea cup or pygmy piglet, but i cant seem to find anywhere with information on how to do so. Could you please email me and help me in some way to take in one of these lovely animals?


Ashley Babic on 2 December, 2009 at 4:15 pm #

I would love to adopt one they are so cute.


Ashley on 2 December, 2009 at 4:18 pm #

My mom and I are interested in a tea cup pig so if you can e~mail me some info on how to adopt one and to take care it them I would like that every much. Thank you


shelbb. on 2 December, 2009 at 11:53 pm #

I am wondering where i can rescue or adopt a micro, mini, or teacup pig. please e-mail me! Thank you so much


Ty on 12 December, 2009 at 4:11 am #

I am interested in adopting a miniature pig or something of a similar size within the next six months or so. I live in Florida. Could you email me information on how to rescue/adopt one as well?


Missa on 12 December, 2009 at 12:44 pm #

where would i find a mini pig rescue in my area?


Kim on 27 December, 2009 at 9:55 pm #

I am looking for a miniature pig rescue in NY- can anyone give me some ideas?


Jennifer Snyder on 7 January, 2010 at 1:22 pm #

my husband and i live in Michigan and we have a 2 yr old daughter we are very interseted in adopting a mini pig not more than 60lbs or so, and a female would be preferred, we have an older basset hound dog as well please email us with any info thank you:)


chelsea flood on 11 January, 2010 at 12:22 am #

I live in south eastern michigan and am interested in adopting or purchasing a pig under 50 lbs. I have 3 acres for this litlle piglet to run around on. Can anyone put me in contact with the right people?


pig lover on 25 January, 2010 at 12:12 am #

i was looking at pictures of pigs and i thought yours was the cutest!


Molli on 27 January, 2010 at 5:04 pm #

i am very interesting in adopting or rescuing a teacup pig or micro mini pig or mini potbelly. Preferably around South Dakota to lessen the shipping costs. please email me with any info


ukmicropigs on 21 February, 2010 at 1:42 pm #

Micro pigs make wonderful pets, they are cute, funny, and very intelligent. However, i must stress that they do not stay the size of a small rabbit for long. Yes they are tiny when a few weeks old but its a misconception that they stay small. They will grow up to roughly the size of a small/medium sized dog. To see photos and videos of micro pigs you can visit our website. ukmicropigs


Amber O'Neal on 2 March, 2010 at 7:52 pm #

My family is interested in adopting a mini teacup piglet. Please contact us by email or phone *********

(Admin Note: I’ve removed Amber’s phone number to protect her from malicious calls. Not everybody who visits here will be respectful of your privacy, Amber, though they are mostly all wonderful people. If you are a breeder and wish to negotiate a sale with Amber, please drop a comment with your site link or ask me to mediate an exchange of information between the two of you. Thanks - Dave)


Linda McDonald-Brown on 17 April, 2010 at 3:02 am #

HOw right this article is. I am in the uk and we are seeing many of these pigs suffering by going into homes that have absolutely no idea how to look after them. Breeders don’t seem to mind selling them singularly even though they can suffer from depression when living without their own porcine company and don’t seem to mind that they are selling them into houses that don’t have a clue on their needs. My advice is do not buy a pet pig unless you intend to keep it permantely outside with its own ark. They are farm animals and should not be in the house


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