Wally, a huge unaltered male, turned up in a man’s yard in rural Tennessee. The man said it happens frequently because he lives near the livestock auction.
Wally clearly spent his life in service of animal agriculture and the almighty dollar, the same as billions of other pigs just like him. They’re different colors, different personalities, and in different parts of the world, but they all serve the same master. Large breed pigs have a “hierarchy” in the production world and he was at the bottom. Wally was the epitome of disposable and worthless because unaltered males are considered inedible and no one wanted to fix his foot, so he was dumped at the auction. Every dollar we spend on animal products is a vote for animal agriculture and suffering. It’s that simple. Your dollar is your vote.
Wally’s story was a short one with us, but that doesn’t change the miracle that happened in his life. A man allowed Wally to tear up his front yard and crash under his porch until we could collect his 558 lbs. of cuteness. He fed him. He hosed him off. He allowed him to dig a super contraband swamp. He called for help and we showed up for him. Every rescue story starts with the same common denominator: One person has to show compassion, and it spreads like wildfire.
We do the best we can for whatever little time we’re honored to know them. Wally had multiple sites of infection that destroyed significant amounts of bone. There was no fix for that. Our vet friends at the University of Tennessee walked him home with kindness and compassion.
Wally earned his windchime on Solsbury Hill and will be a Sanctuary Babe forever. We’ll see you on the other side, sir. It was a pleasure to know you if only briefly.