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READ
BELOW BEFORE
YOU ADOPT OR BUY A PIG????
BEFORE
you adopt or buy a potbelly pig please do your homework FIRST!
Check
your zoning!
You
need to make sure that you are zoned to have a potbellied pig
as a pet. Unfortunately many cities/towns still do not allow them
or have ridiculous restrictions on owning one. I cannot stress
enough how important is to check your zoning laws first.
Be
sure you are ready for the 12-15 year commitment that it will
take to care for a potbellied pig. I believe potbellies are the
greatest pets out there, BUT THEY ARE NOT FOR EVERYONE!
Please
figure this out BEFORE you get a potbellied pig or any
animal for that matter.
I
am often asked what is the cost or price of pigs. Prices go any
where from free on up. But, there is NO MARKET for them
anymore. If there was a market then there would be no need for
sanctuaries and/or rescue centers and they wouldn't be overflowing
with dumped pigs.
Many
shelters, rescue centers and people that do rescue work are happy
to give you a pig free of charge. Some may have a small adoption
fee and others may do an on-site check first to be sure the pig
will be well cared for. Their main concern is that it go to a
loving home where it will be cared for its entire life.
Price
does not make one pig better than another. It is just what one
person can charge and what people are willing to pay.
Some
people selling pigs charge large amounts of money because of the
pigs 'special' breeding line. Well, here is a little secret: All
potbelly pigs in North America come from one line, called the
Lee - Connel line. Yes, there are different markings, different
sizes, etc., but they all can be traced back to this line.
The
worst thing you can do is buy a pig on the spur of the moment.
Check out who you are buying this pig from. Have they weaned the
pig properly? Pigs should not be weaned before the age of 6-8
weeks. Have they socialized this piglet?
Have
they checked you out to make sure that this pig is going to a
good home or are they only interested in taking your money? Are
they willing to take the pig back should things not work out?
Is the pig spayed or neutered?
DO
YOUR RESEARCH!
I
have no problem with people who charge a fee for this pig to cover
spay/neuter costs. If you cannot afford this then you shouldn't
have a pig.
PIGS4EVER DOES NOT SELL POTBELLIED PIGS! WE DO NOT ENDORSE BREEDERS
WHO DO! They are all adding to the unwanted pig population.
I
was recently asked "If I were to adopt a pig from a sanctuary
would I just be getting someone else's problem pig?"
NO!
No
respectable sanctuary or rescue center will adopt out a pig that
does have a problem. Most of these pigs are in these sanctuaries
and shelters because someone didn't do their homework. They didn't
realize that they weren't zoned and a neighbor turned them in.
The
pig got bigger then expected. The pig was becoming aggressive
(didn't bother to have it spayed or neutered). The family dog
attacked the pig (extremely common). Etc., etc.
So,
we will repeat ourselves: If you are interested in getting a pot
belly pig, DO YOUR HOMEWORK FIRST!
I
do realize that many of you would like to buy a piglet and this
is why you are looking for a breeder. It is possible to adopt
a piglet as many times rescue centers and sanctuaries do get in
pregnant sows and need to find homes for the piglets.
NEED
TO ADOPT OUT YOUR PIG?
So,
you have a pig and you need to 'dump' it? We sure hope not. Pigs
are living creatures with emotions. They are not an old chair
you just throw away. They are extremely intelligent and become
attached to people and surroundings quite easily.
If
you are going to do this, here are a few guidelines to make the
transition easier for the pig and you.
Please
check out who you are giving your pig to. Go see where your pig
is going to be living. Make sure that they are going to put your
pigs welfare first and not make dinner out of him, or use him
for experiments or target practice. All these things have happened
before!
Have
the courtesy to take your pig there, don't tell them that they
need to come get your pig. If you must ship your pig check out
the different methods of transportation and if the company has
dealt with potbellied pigs before.
Send
your piggies belongs along with him. This includes his food and
water bowls and most importantly his blankies and any toys he
may have.
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