As winter sweeps across the country, it becomes increasingly difficult for animals who find themselves stray in rural communities. That was the case with this beautiful (and big) lady pig. Animal control was not only compassionate enough to spare her life, but they reached out for help to get her to an appropriate home. That’s where we came in.
This pretty girl has been named Rae, which means a variety of different beautiful things depending on the language and culture where it is used—purity, grace, beam of light, innocence, divine favor, and nature’s beauty, just to name a few.
Rae was safely transported straight to the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center where she got all the essential items she needs to live a healthy life—vaccines, deworming, microchip for identification, and the ever important spay.
Taking in enormous pigs is not for the faint of heart. They’re tough customers. They’re smarties. They don’t put up with weakness or shenanigans. They break fences. They eat huge amounts. And as Daniel said, “She’s clearly going to be the boss of whichever neighborhood we choose for her.” We’ll find out after her mandatory 30 day quarantine period is up!
Update
Rae has officially started integration into the Feral Neighborhood, and she’s the first one we’ve ever tried!!! We are following our protocol, reading her cues, and moving slowly. Rae is meeting her new family through the safety of the integration fence, and the initial reaction is CALM.