Pig News

Appropriately enough, this week's PETS of the Week at the https://Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter are two POTBELLY PIGS named Wilbur & Rosie. They'd love to have a new rural home to call their own! As fully-grown adult pigs, they each weigh over 160 lbs, and they're intelligent and fun pets to have around. Rosie is 5 years old and is actually mother to Wilbur, who is 4, so their bond is strong and they enjoy one another's company.

Fun fact: Wilbur has been neutered, so there won't be any additions to their family if they're the only pigs around.

More Piggie Info: Although sometimes kept as household pets in urban or suburban areas, pigs - even small-breed pigs like these two - are usually happiest when they live on rural properties where there's space to explore and root around, where they have a safe indoor place to stay at night (like a barn or a shed), a muddy wallow to cool themselves in, and where they'll get a healthy, varied diet.

A healthy pot belly pig diet usually consists of pig pellets, lots of fresh water, plenty of fresh vegetables like leafy greens, carrots, cucumbers and bell peppers, and fruit as an occasional treat. They'll also happily help themselves to insects, worms, grubs and even eggs or small rodents if they can get their snouts on them. Although they'll eat just about anything, they are highly susceptible to obesity and other serious diet-related health problems, so it's important that owners be thoughtful. They should NOT be fed dog or cat food, nor processed human foods.

Unfortunately, another common problem pet pigs run into is that some unscrupulous breeders sell so-called "micro," "teacup" or "mini pigs" when they are very young piglets without disclosing how large they'll actually get. So folks buy a very young piglet that weighs 4 to 8 pounds and then are shocked when their little pet just keeps growing and growing... We need to be aware that pig breeders consider any pig weighing less than 350 pounds to be "miniature"! All of the most popular miniature breeds, including pot belly pigs, American Mini Pigs, American Guinea Hogs and KuneKune pigs will grow to weigh anywhere from 160 to over 300 pounds, and it's very difficult to predict just how big an individual will get! The smallest breed is the Gottingen Mini Pig - these are very rare, and they still get to be around 100 lbs as adults.

All of these little piggies also have a significant lifespan: with decent care they're expected to live 14 to 18 years, so you've got to be ready to commit! You also need to check your local zoning codes and/or with your homeowners' association before you bring a pig home - in unincorporated Santa Cruz County, for example, pigs are only allowed on properties zoned "Agricultural Residential."

So, if you''ve gotten yourself to be pig-savvy and live on a "piggable" property, consider Rosie & Wilbur! They're a bonded pair, so they can be adopted together for a single $100 adoption fee.

For more info and to learn about some of the shelter's upcoming events, read the full post, listen to Pet-O-Rama at 11am Thursdays here on the pig or visit the shelter, located at 1001 Rodriguez St. in Santa Cruz and open from 11am to 6pm every day.

PLUS, Two Upcoming Shelter Events:
Friday, March 27, 11am - 2pm
Healthy Pets for All vaccine clinic for low-income pet owners
VFW Post at 2259 7th Ave

Saturday, April 25th, 11am - 3pm
Taste of Monterey Bay Beer, Food & Wine Festival
At Bayonet Black Horse, 1 McClure Way in Seaside
Tickets available at the Bayonet Black Horse website, proceeds benefit our shelter!

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