Think about how pigs are often described... do you picture a messy, overeating, smelly farm animal? Or do you picture a sweet, smart, kind-hearted animal that can be as affectionate as a dog?
So... here are some porcine truths to reset the record and help develop awareness of, compassion for, and better treatment for pigs everywhere.
As an example of kindness, let me introduce you to Ella, the pig who is friends with Mercy, a cat. Mercy rides piggyback on her best friend, Ella the pig. (for more animal friendship stories, see 125 True Stories of Amazing Animal Friendships by National Geographic Kids.)
Do you think of pigs as dirty creatures? Well, in fact, they do like to roll in dust (so do birds, by the way!) or mud (as do hippos, elephants and warthogs) to cool off and to protect their skin from sunburn. How ingenious! I wish that we had all-natural sunscreen. Mud bath anyone? When not cooling off, pigs like to be clean! Research has even shown that pigs sometimes WASH their food before eating. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1024568904243332
Pigs are super intelligent, and other than sharp teeth (yes, they can bite into a whole pumpkin!), they are gentle.
Enjoy this poem from Our Farm: By the Animals of Farm Sanctuary (poems by Maya Gottfried, paintings by Robert Rahway Zakanitch). This poem is told in the voice of Violet, a pig who lived a happy life at the Farm Sanctuary.
A Flower's Life
by Violet, a pig
My name is Violet, and I am a flower.
See:
My bed is made of grass.
My hooves are planted firmly in the dirt.
I perk up like a daffodil after it rains.
And I smell sweet, like a lily.
(I take a sunbath nearly every day!)
I must be a flower.
Truly.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to roll in the mud.
Sometimes people think that pigs are lazy, like a farm couch potato. And, then assume that they just sit around, empty and unimportant. BUT, Pigs are extremely smart! In some studies, pigs have shown to be smarter than dogs and some 3-year old human children. See the Humane Society's post for details. https://www.humanesociety.org/blog/pigs-are-intelligent-emotional-animals-and-heres-what-were-doing-protect-them?utm_source=blogredirect Pigs can learn how to play video games, they communicate (not in Pig Latin, either) and are a joy to be around.
Tracey Stewart, in her book Do Unto Animals: A Friendly Guide to How Animals Live and How We Can Make Their Lives Better, writes, "I always try to provide the BEST environment for my pigs. This consists of a big mud puddle, a clean pond, shelter for shade during the summer and warmth during the winter, and a roomy area for building communal nests. Female pigs burrow and build a nest for their group of fellow pigs and piglets to sleep in together and cuddle up nose-to-nose. They know how to make the home cozy for their piglets and they are very good at keeping the space clean and sanitary for their roommates, as they hate mess!"
Illustrations in Do Unto Animals by Lisel Ashlock (https://www.liseljaneashlock.com/)
If you haven't ever seen a pig in person, I hope you get to - they are awesome. When you realize how sweet, smart and incredible these animals are, maybe you'll want to take action to end cruelty to pigs and stop factory farming. I love pigs and hope you do too!
P.S. A final fun pig note. If you are in the Bahamas, check out Pig Island where you can swim with pigs (did you konw that pigs can swim?)
I always knew pigs were among the smartest animals, but this post really gave me a new perspective. Thank you for sharing this fun interesting and inspiring information.
I enjoy how what you share dispels myths. It makes a difference in how we relate to each other and other species.
You might enjoy these silly excerpts from the comedy series "Green Acres", 'The Best of Arnold the Pig'. Arnold, their pig, was an important character and was portrayed as smart, insightful, and funny.
Wendy
Oliver, you've set the record straight. We need more testimonies like this to protect animals! Dan