Posts tagged "MicroPigs"

Rounding up our favorite animal stories, photos, and videos on the Web each week!

• 

  Prom For Puppies

  It's prom season for dogs! Get ready for furry tuxes, tiny tiaras and pure puppy love. [via PR Newswire]

• 

  The Bark Stops Here

  What's worse than your dog barking nonstop? For Piscataway, N.J. residents, it's the new fine they'll have to pay if their dog is caught barking. Ever. Any time of the day or night. [via CBS News]

• 

  Pretty in Pink

  The Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates spring with the essentials: music, food and, of course, real live pink poodles. [via Macon.com]

• 

  Bunnies Gone Wild

  On the Bunny Cam, it's a complete (and entertaining) free-for-all for these adorable hares in a hurry. [via DailySquee]

• 

  All the Small Things

  Do the best things come in small packages? Owners of these tiny hedgehogs, rabbits, and pigs certainly think so. [via Lemondrop]

There is no doubt that celebrities live the glamorous life. Sure, fame can cause you to lose your dignity, sanity and any reasonable concept of how many bedrooms one could possibly need. On the flip side, you do get tons of free stuff. And who wants to say no to free stuff? Especially if it is an adorable micro pet.

At last month's Golden Globes ceremony, the swag -- aka the free stuff -- was flowing as usual. Except that amidst the fancy clothes, sparkly jewelry, decadent spa treatments and more, celebs were being gifted with those cute little micro pigs everyone's been clamoring for -- and concerned about -- since Paris Hilton trotted out her own squealing piglet.

GBK, a luxury lifestyle gifting and special events company, included in its Golden Globes swag some lovely truffle salt, truffle oil and oh, yes, a certificate from Patty's Royal Dandie Miniature Pet Pig farm for a free pig -- valued at $5,000. New owners would be required to complete a one-hour course (a whole hour!) on caring for the squiggly piggly (which can range in size from 19 to 39 pounds depending on the type of pig) and then the animal would be hand delivered to the celeb.

While some think micro-pigs are too high maintenance for pets, Paris Hilton simply keeps her pig in a blanket... in her bed. The heiress revealed that she and her boyfriend, Doug Reinhardt, love to cuddle up with her mini pig in bed, according to the UK's Daily Mail.

"Doug and I will be lying in bed, watching DVDs, and she'll just lie there between us," she told Hello! magazine when she showed off her tiny pig wrapped in a pink blanket during a Christmas photo shoot.

Along with Victoria Beckham, who owns two of the must-have pigs, Hilton helped fuel the micro-pig craze when she purchased Miss Piglette. Hilton's new BFF, who will grow up to be just 14 inches, is the latest addition to the 28-year-old's pack of 13 pets.

While Hilton's pricey piggy might not have her own designer clothes or live in a mini mansion like Hilton's dogs, she seems perfectly content cuddling in the socialite's bed.

Micro pigs are the biggest newest trend in itty-bitty pets. They're adorable, extremely clean, and look quite manageable at only 14 inches high.

Looks can be deceiving. Micro pigs maybe not be as manageable as they appear on the surface. Besides carrying a possibly unattainable $1,160 price tag, these cuties are more high-maintenance than you might think. The UK's Daily Telegraph has rooted up another side to ownership of the pint-size porcine that is considerably less cute than the pigs themselves, saying the micro pigs could be a maxi-disaster. The Telegraph spoke with Kirsty Bayley, who is the Pig Herd Manager at the Institute of Animal Health, and who shared a few details that might make you think twice before bringing home a tiny piglet.

For one thing, because the precious pigs are bred so exclusively for their size, the risks of inbreeding and its associated health risks go up. Among these myriad health risks is decreased fertility, which is a major problem if you're hoping for a portly profit.

Pigs are very social and surprisingly active creatures, so they're happiest with at least one companion pig, lots of room, and lots of toys. If they're not properly entertained, they can quickly begin exhibiting signs of depression, such as lethargy or repetitive movements, according to what Bayley told the Telegraph.

Bayley also warns potential pig purchasers to be wary of buying from a breeder without a reference, as there have been numerous documented stories of people purchasing what they believed to be micro pigs, only to have what were actually piglets grow into full-sized pigs once they hit their growth spurts.

Though the urge to get your hands on one of these delightful, darling pets may be irresistible, don't let it become an impulse buy. A toy-sized animal isn't a toy. Do your research, and make sure you and your family are thoroughly prepared to handle a micro pig or any other pet before you reach for your wallet.

Story update: For more information on this trend check out the video from ABC News below:

The UK's micro pig obsession is about to get bigger. According to the UK's Daily Mail, singer-turned-fashion designer Victoria Beckham recently splurged on this season's must-have: Micro Pigs.

At $1,160 (£700) each, Victoria and David Beckham's two new micro pigs are living like the rich and famous at the couple's home in Hertfordshire, England.

At only 9 oz. at birth, these micro pigs are surprisingly clean and sociable pets, reports the Daily Mail.

While the former Spice Girl wishes to name her trendy pets after her good friends Elton John and David Furnish, her soccer star husband prefers to call his piglets something more traditional: Pinky and Perky.

We wonder how long it will be before the two piggies make it into Victoria's purse.

See adorable micro pigs in action: