Caring for elders is a huge part of our work. These massive “production” pigs have to cross through an exceptionally difficult gauntlet of circumstances to become Sanctuary Babes, and their lifespans are usually cut short by genetic issues, massive amounts of painful arthritis, and the inability to manage the weight they’ve been burdened to carry. All of that was true with Timbo.
Timbo was one of the 159 pigs surrendered to us in 2021, and we’ve worked for more than four years to improve his sanctuary experience for what remained of his life. With no existing medical records at the time of surrender, and based on what we were able to piece together from social media posts and volunteer stories, we know that Timbo was a “breeder boar.” Like many animals trapped in the farming system, he endured the toll of watching his family members leave season after season. When the people who owned the operation left the business, they made the decision to “retire” the remaining pigs, including Timbo.
Though we knew our time would be limited with Timbo, we did our very best to help him enjoy the things he loved best. Family. Food. Comfort. It’s no different in any species. We want our final days to be as pleasant as possible. Timbo had worsening mobility issues for quite a while. There’s just no fix for giant aging bodies.
We took him to the University of Tennessee for an evaluation of declining mobility and worsening quality of life. We were pretty sure we’d given him every possible thing, and we were right. Timbo passed with the help of our very compassionate vet team at the University of Tennessee.
Timbo came to us without any records, but we know based on his breed that he was destined to be killed and eaten. Giant pink pigs are really only used for one thing, and it’s an honor to have instead known him as an individual, cared for him in his final years, and helped him get the final bit of healthcare he needed at the very end. He was a loved and respected member of the Cabin House Neighborhood, and our caregivers put in extraordinary effort to help him enjoy every last moment of Sanctuary Babe life.
See you on the other side, Timbo. We miss you.