Pigs as pets
As you probably know, so-called swine flu is primarily a human disease, and it doesn’t come from eating pork or being around pigs. Unfortunately, though, it looks like pigs might be able to contract the influenza, known in medical communities as H1N1, and local pot bellied pig enthusiasts, like the owners of Ross Mill Farm, are taking precautions.
I’ve never had any kind of a pig—pot bellied or otherwise—as a household pet. However, I did grow up around pigs (domestic pigs, the kind raised for meat), and I’m quite willing to testify on their behalf.
Pigs are smart, cute, and fun to watch as they go about their business. They aren’t dirty or smelly unless their pens aren’t kept clean, but that’s the responsibility of people, not pigs. Pigs do, however, eat like pigs, which is to say they love to eat, and they aren’t very dainty about it. As omnivores, they’ll eat just about anything, though the domestic pigs my parents raised mostly ate specially-prepared pig gruel and plenty of vegetables.
While they’re very friendly—they even seem to laugh and have a lot of fun—it’s not a good idea to try to play with a barnyard pig. Although there are exceptions, the average farm pig isn’t socialized around humans, and a large pig (150 pounds or more) can actually be dangerous, especially around kids.
Pot bellied pigs, on the other hand, make great pets, and their popularity hasn’t surprised me in the least. Since they were first introduced to the U.S. in the mid-1980s, hundreds of thousands of pot bellied pigs (possibly more) have been adopted as companion animals with good reason: they’re easily trained, extremely intelligent, and very affectionate. Plus, they don’t shed, they don’t bark, they don’t get fleas, they generally don’t cause allergies, and they use a litter box, just like a cat.
But they do get big, and they aren’t maintenance-free. Since they’re so smart, they need plenty of attention, interaction, and training—or they’ll end up training you. They can also become destructive when bored; it’s just natural for pigs to “root” with their noses, whether they’re indoors or out. They need plenty of space, they need exercise, and they have special dietary requirements. They also need a veterinarian who understands pigs.
If you’re thinking about adopting a pot bellied pig, keep two important things in mind. First, check with zoning in your community to see if they’re allowed. Secondly, do plenty of reading and research to make sure a pot bellied pig is the right kind of pet for you. Unfortunately, many pigs have met with unpleasant ends when their humans realized it wasn’t a good match, and, just as with dogs, cats, and other pets, they end up in shelters and worse.
Here are a few good places to start reading about pot bellied pigs.
Pig O’ My Heart Potbellies
Pigs, A Sanctuary
North American Potbellied Pig Association
PIGS4EVER
Pig Placement Network
© Leah McClellan
