Joey was one of the 159 pigs surrendered to OMI when we moved to Tennessee and took over the herd in 2021. Joey was born to Charity in 2015, but we do not know all of the details surrounding his birth. It is very strange to have a report of a female giving birth in a sanctuary setting, and it is one of the many reasons we choose to spay all of our female pigs. Females are capable of having three litters of babies in a year, and they can give birth to 12-15 pigs each time. Spaying is a huge part of basic female reproductive healthcare in and of itself, but the risk that an intact male pig would break a fence to impregnate a female is simply not worth the risk. Part of protecting our females involves keeping them safe from that threat.
Joey is reportedly the only surviving piglet of Charity’s litter of babies, and while we cannot confirm any more of the story, it is apparent that they are mother and son. They are inseparable, and even with different colored coats, he resembles her greatly. It’s a beautiful thing for a mother to be allowed to live her life with her baby, and we’re proud to showcase their bond as a representation of a mother’s bond with her child…no matter the species.
