Biaggio was a handsome Hampshire male who lived as a revered member of the Old Guys’ Neighborhood. He was a friendly, gentle giant with a goofy smile and kind eyes. He was one of the original 159 pigs surrendered to OMI when we moved to Tennessee and took over the herd in 2021. Huge pigs like Biaggio are bred exclusively as part of the animal agriculture industry to be turned into food, and having even one of them find safety in a sanctuary home is a feat of epic proportions.
Biaggio started having a decreased appetite and temperature regulation issues, which is not something we ordinarily encounter in large adult males. It’s a sign that something is acutely wrong. Big pigs have very limited access to advanced diagnostics at smaller schools like the University of Tennessee, so we made the trip all the way up to New Bolton for more advanced care. What they found was a cancerous mass in his abdomen that had perforated his bowel, and the only humane option was euthanasia.
While we are very aware that we cannot fix every problem that ails our population of aging residents, we take great pride in doing all we can to give them a chance at a proper diagnosis and consideration of treatment options before humane euthanasia. After over a decade of working with large pigs, we have learned that the resources are very slim for this population of animals, but they exist if we’re willing to travel for them. In cases like Biaggio’s, we reached the limits of veterinary medical technology and made peace with the end of his life, knowing we did all that we possibly could for him.
He was survived by a gaggle of huge family members in the Old Guys’ Neighborhood, including Silico, Sneaky Ella, Angie Vivian, Arky, James Henry, Ladyfinger, Plutarch, and HDT. We honor the legacy of all who have passed here by continuing to provide the best possible care for their loved ones left behind.