Chewie, Obi-Wan, and Jar Jar Binks are known as the “Star Wars Babes.” These three brothers were born at a production facility which would have meant their lives were only valuable for what they can provide. They arrived at the University of Tennessee to be assessed for a routine castration, and the doctors identified that all three had cryptorchidism— where a testicle is trapped in the abdominal wall. It requires more extensive surgery to fix, and the owner was not willing to spend that kind of money on three baby pigs. She ordered them to be euthanized.
We’ve worked extensively with our vet partners over the last few years here in Tennessee, and they reached out immediately to see if we had space for intake. All three babies were immediately surrendered to Odd Man inn, and we authorized the surgery they needed to fix the problem as the first step to Sanctuary Babe status. They were also vaccinated, dewormed, microchipped, and treated to an Instacart delivery of fresh fruits and vegetables while they recovered. It’s the equivalent of sending pigs flowers while they’re in the hospital.
It’s a rare and valuable relationship we have fostered with our vet partners where they can feel empowered to advocate for animals from inside the walls of the hospital. Rescue always starts with ONE common denominator: ONE person needs to step forward and show compassion. Helping foster that compassion not only births a vulnerable animal into rescue, it nurtures and rewards behaviors that saves lives and encourages thinking about the choices we make that impact those lives.
Rescue is not just about the lives we save. It’s also about the lives we touch through education. Young vet students are uniquely positioned to be a breeding ground for change when it comes to how animals are viewed and treated. We work very proudly with the University of Tennessee for a vast majority of our vet care, and we are proud of the proficiency, professionalism, and compassion they routinely show in caring for our Sanctuary Babes. The Star Wars Babes will live long lives because ONE person stepped forward to help them.
