Baby King was one of the original four Fuzzy Ferals who arrived in 2018 from the Memphis Animal Shelter. He became the poster child for neutering males as soon as possible when he fathered an accidental litter here under the former administration. King is now a fully grown boy who never leaves the side of his mother, who we think is Coretta, and his best girl, Momma Memphis. He’s a very timid feral who needs a specific set of standards to manage his care safely. While King would never hurt anyone, and has been in a sanctuary setting his entire life, he is most definitely a “no touch” sort of guy. His care is always done by our vet partners at the University of Tennessee. Just because an animal is a difficult patient doesn’t mean we ignore their needs. He gets all the same care in a setting that allows him to tolerate handling.
The Fuzzy Ferals
The Fuzzy Ferals started with just four pigs, but grew to a herd of eighteen in just four short months. Momma Memphis arrived from the Memphis Animal Shelter in October 2018 under the care of the former administration of this property. She was accompanied by Martin and Coretta, both fully grown, and baby King. Shortly after arriving, she gave birth to seven spotted babies, many of whom resembled Martin. Four months later, because King was neutered too late, she gave birth to seven more fuzzy little potatoes who all resembled King.
Prey animals like pigs are extremely efficient at procreation because the survival of their species depends on it. Females can become pregnant as soon as they deliver, and they can have three litters of up to fifteen babies a year. Males are fertile very quickly, which means caregivers need to exercise extreme caution when they have an unaltered male on the property.
The Fuzzy Ferals were spayed once OMI took over the Tennessee property, which further improved their chances for a long and healthy life. Female pigs are highly susceptible to reproductive abnormalities if left unspayed, which can significantly impact the quality and length of their lives. Not only are the Fuzzy Ferals living in safety with their family, but they have now received full Sanctuary Babe status with the addition of an appropriate level of species-specific healthcare.
