Pig Pig is, you guessed it, a pig (well, a piglet) in LaCenter, Wash. who defied death thanks to her farmer owner's quick thinking. The newborn's life had gotten off to a rough start when Pig Pig's mother, deathly ill from complications from labor, accidentally rolled over onto the piglet, crushing her "flat as a pancake." Fortunately owner Jeff Olsen was nearby and stepped in with heroic mouth-to-snout CPR, breathing new life into the pretty pink porker.
And that was just the beginning of Pig Pig's adventures. When her mother died shortly afterwards, Jeff's wife Heidi placed the newborn piglet with a new litter of Red Heeler puppies, hoping that the doggie mother would take to the piglet. "The mama dog looked at me like, "are you crazy?" But nature took over, her mothering instinct took over and she brought her in as one of her own," says Heidi.
Now the only problem with healthy and happy Pig Pig is that she thinks she's a dog -- and refuses to have anything to do with the other pigs on the farm.
Posts tagged "farm animals"
Cats? Dogs? Iguanas? Played out. The hot new family pet just might be the pygmy goat. Publications like the San Francisco Gate and the New York Times are reporting that more and more people are choosing goats as pets.
Many urbanites are reclaiming the art of growing their own vegetables, and even keeping bees and chicken coops, so why not goats? Pygmies are particularly well-suited for urban and suburban yards. They stand 17 to 23 inches tall and are said to be as intelligent and good-tempered as some dogs. Plus, they provide milk and cut your grass for you. They range in cost from $100 to $300 -- cheaper than a lawn mower, and way cuter.
But before you pick up your new pet, check local laws to avoid grazing violations or other snafus. And because they are herd animals, you'll need to get more than one. Your neighbors are going to loooove that.
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Jean Liebenberg / Farm Sanctuary
Susie Coston, Farm Sanctuary's national shelter director, recently wrote a heart-warming blog post titled A Reason to Get Up in the Morning that made us fall in love with the place all over again.
Coston shared the story of Angie, an elderly pig living at Farm Sanctuary's New York property who found herself alone after her pig companions died. Coston told Paw Nation that Angie had always been a happy pig who loved playing with her friends. Once she was on her own, however, Angie became depressed. She even lost interest in going out to the pasture.
"We were thinking Angie was done," Coston told Paw Nation, "She was old. She wasn't eating and she was just laying there. We were thinking we might have to put her down." Coston went on to say that pigs are very intelligent and exhibit sophisticated emotions. Like humans, they are even prone to getting ulcers when they are stressed and upset.
Farm Sanctuary staff tried introducing new friends to Angie, but she rejected each with "a bite on the rump or a run around the stall." Eventually, though, a new porcine pal would win Angie's heart. The tiny piglet, named Fiona, arrived at the sanctuary and became curious about Angie. And so, Coston told Paw Nation, with much trepidation the staff placed the piglet in the pen with the grouchy old lady.
Photo: Zynga
In this addictive virtual game, you can plant and harvest crops on your farm, purchase your favorite farm animals (chicken! sheep!) or adopt stray animals that show up on your farm. By collecting your animals' byproducts, you'll have enough money to help you extend your farm and buy more animals from the market or give them as gifts to your neighbors. After a hard day's work, you can go right up to your cow or sheep and pet them. Don't be surprised when you hear a "moo" coming from your computer -- these virtual animals are equipped with virtual sounds! Within minutes of playing FarmVille, you may just turn into Old MacDonald!
Photo: Farm Sanctuary
In the case of an emaciated baby Nubian goat found wandering in New York City on September 1st, he was most likely saving his hide from being sold at a live meat market. The east Bronx area isn't new to goats on the lam (sorry!) as two others, Isabella and Duncan, were also found in bad shape walking through the borough in July, reports the New York Daily News. The lucky refugees were rescued by animal control and are now living at Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, NY. Paw Nation spoke with Farm Sanctuary national shelter director Susie Coston about how this latest goat is doing and his chances for rehabilitation.
Does the goat have a name?
Not yet -- we usually wait to see their personalities come out. He's been so out of it we haven't really gotten to know him yet. Just today he started talking and making some normal little goat sounds. We'll name him when we know him a little better.
How is he doing?
The mobile vet is checking on him, because he's still dehydrated. He doesn't have a good appetite, and he's on antibiotics for pneumonia. He's definitely loaded with parasites. He's emaciated and very weak and tired. We've had much worse pull through so we're hoping he will too -- he just needs a week of really good care.
He's only about a month old. He's a Nubian, so he'll eventually be about 200 lbs. Baby goats usually aren't mortified by the presence of humans, but these city ones are mistreated -- we always find them diseased and full of parasites. It's mind-boggling to me that they are sold for meat.
Why do you think he was wandering in the Bronx?
Well, this is definitely the most darling piglet we've seen since runty Wilbur Arable. Just look at his wittle face popping out of that ridiculous floatie! Sure, it must bruise the ego to be forced out of one's pen by rampaging, gluttonous siblings (though you can't blame pigs for gluttony; that's just how they roll), but it sure looks like Farmer Johnson's makeshift spa treatment soothed this little piggy's soul. Terrific! Radiant! Some pig!
We think this little piggy would probably feel right at home off the coast of Big Major Spot.
We think this little piggy would probably feel right at home off the coast of Big Major Spot.
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