Ziggy was an OMI original. She came to us as an owner surrender when her folks had a change in life circumstances. In those early days, we didn’t realize the need was so huge, and we said yes to casual requests like hers. They delivered a 150 pound “purebred mini pig” who bites. She didn’t just bite, though. She ran full force into your shins and speared you with her bottom teeth. She had been picked on by little dogs her whole life, and it’s how she learned to defend herself. That constant anxiety shaped her behavior for the rest of her life…until she finally trusted she was safe.
Ziggy shared a house in the MedBarn Neighborhood with her best friends Eppah and Frances. She loved to eat, lay in the sunshine and have her pretty coat gently brushed by people she knew well. She thrived on consistent caregiving, safety and appropriate respect of her personal space.
At fifteen years old, Ziggy’s arthritis pain and failing mobility in her back end were making it too difficult to manage daily life. She needed just a little extra support to make it over the finish line with dignity. It was a privilege to help her with that. In her last few months, she spent lots of time outside, sunbathing and enjoying clementines.
Ziggy passed with the help of our beloved vet partners at the University of Tennessee. We were with her until the very end. Her arthritis was bad enough that she had started walking backwards to keep from using her shoulders. When you’ve known a friend for this long, you can FEEL when it’s time. We were proud to be her oldest and dearest friends. We loved her and will miss her dearly. It was an honor to know Ziggy and protect her for the last nine years of her life.
