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Big
Arnies Story
l'm always willing
to tell Arnie Stories. Arnie belonged to a wonderful older couple
in Chicago. He started taking over the house one room at a time and
was a complete spoiled brat. His people Dad had bad legs and Arnie
would knock him around when he wanted him out of the room. They sadly
took Arnie to a rescue place in northern Illinois that was close enough
for them to visit.
This place turned
all the goats, horses, pigs, etc., loose together. When they went
back the next week to check, Arnie was laying in a dirt hole outside
in the cold shaking. Seems there was only a three sided barn and the
other animals wouldn't let this pig who had been in the house all
his life inside with them. It was this time of year (Fall) and too
cold for him. I don't know who gave them my name but Helen called
crying and I said bring him on.
When he got here
he had pneumonia, was pretty beat up and went into deep depression;
not eating, not getting up, not doing anything except biting me if
I walked too close. I had to roll him up on his stomach to feed him
and give him water and the way he ate was a riot.
I rolled the food
into a ball and everytime he would snap at me ...which was every time
I held the food out...I would throw the ball of food in his mouth.
I didn't tell his people Mom but I really didn't give him much chance
of making it because he didn't WANT to make it. It took him three
weeks to get back on his feet and that was 4 years ago.
His Mom is getting
a little old for the 5 hour drive to see him but his Aunt and Uncle,
Barb and John, took her place for the last three years. They make
the trip once a month come hell or high water...bring him (and all
the other pigs too) goodies and visit all day then drive back to
Chicago. John trims my bushes, cleans the gutters and all the stuff
that he can to help. Barb always brings a picnic lunch...summer
and winter...(they know that I don't cook)
His people Mom
still sends UPS packages addressed to him that have extra goodies
like pop tarts, animal crackers, pillows that I would die for and
any number of other goodies. Arnie has become such a good boy that
they are amazed...they will even pass him in the hallway now which
they wouldn't have done 4 years ago. He is probably the least problem
of any of the house animals except he still chases my husband ....but
that's because he thinks it is oh so neat to see this strange man
run!!!
He is one of the
lucky ones that had good owners but they were too good and spoiled
him to the point that they couldn't live with him any longer...but
I wish all the guys here had people parents like these. They ask me
if Arnie would ever go outside and I said only if he decides that
is where he wants to be. Most of these pigs just gradually gravitate
to staying out longer periods until they choose to have full control
of their lives....NOT ARNIE!
After four years
he has complete run of the farm but lets me know in no uncertain terms
that he is not made for staying out over night. He goes to the lake,
he goes to the persimmon grove but when he wants in for a nap or for
bedtime, he wants in like NOW! So that is the story of the Big Arnie.
By Phyllis
Battoe
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