Bubby was a large, elderly Hampshire pig with beautiful floppy ears and the sweetest smile. He and his sister Sissy were initially purchased as piglets to be raised for slaughter. The person raising them watched them grow and quickly realized they deserved to live out their lives. Bubby and Sissy each found different adopted families when they arrived in Jamestown, and they settled into their respective family groups in separate neighborhoods. Bubby lived in the Feral Neighborhood and slept in a house with a mix of younger and older pigs. If the temperature hit 40°F, Bubby could be found in the swamp.
Unfortunately, like other domesticated breeds of pigs developed for meat production, Hampshire pigs have been selectively bred over generations to gain weight rapidly and achieve a significantly larger body mass than their wild ancestors. Consequently, arthritis is an extremely common ailment in these large pigs. Bubby suffered from pretty severe arthritis, and swamping provided him some relief. When Bubby had trouble getting himself out of the swamp, which was quite often, he relied on his caregivers to help him up. They were happy to be of service! It is so rare for a being like Bubby to enjoy the entirety of his life in the safety of a sanctuary, and the OMI team enjoyed the privilege of watching and helping him do just that.
Bubby had worsening mobility issues for quite a while. There’s no fix for giant aging bodies. Every moment is precious. We nursed sweet Bubby for more than a year…towing him up out of the holler, driving him home when he was too tired to make it, lifting him from being stuck time and time again. He would sit patiently and wait for help. We did it with glad hearts and strong backs. Bubby let us know he was ready to go, and we honored that. We honored him.
He is survived here by his sister, Sissy, and his friends Albert, Yankee Wilbur, Charity, Eli, Ennis, Jedediah, Harlan, Pigeon, and so many more. He was loved immensely by all of us.
