(As many of you may already know, Niagara At Large has a soft spot for animals looking for a good home and, in that spirit, we are posting this piece about Wilbur, a homeless pig we’ve received more than a few emails about over the past week.)
By Linda Crabtree
There is a young pot-bellied pig at the Lincoln County Humane Society on Fourth Ave. in St.Catharines, Ontario who badly needs a home – and fast – before he has a nervous breakdown.
Wilbur is one nice pig who needs to find a loving home away from barking dogs.
He’s been there for several weeks and he’s in the same room as the big
dogs. The barking is deafening and this poor fellow is taking it as
best he can. To those I have written before, I went to see him today (April 7) as I only live two blocks from the Humane Society.
His name is Wilbur and he’s only two years old. He is housebroken and has been neutered. His beautifully sculpted, rotund piggy body weighs about 200 pounds. He should weigh less, I’m told. He
needs to do some walking. It’s hard to connect with his little piggy
eyes in the environment he’s in but you can tell he’s upset. Who
wouldn’t be.
Apparently he can live in the house and used to sleep on a blanket but
he’d likely be quite happy in a barn or stable. He eats pig pellets
available from any farm supply store and vegetable and fruit. He
sounds like a good recycler for edible salad scraps. The poor guy
needs a pedicure I’m afraid.
I’m also told he can shake a hoof and is quite affectionate.
The adoption fee is $150.
He’s not much on looks but he’s so hairy and wrinkled he’s almost
cute. I’m thinking he likely thinks he’s died and gone to hell. Wilbur
needs a home. If you would spread this around, it might help this poor
fellow get out of there.
If you are interested in inquiring about Wilbur, call the Lincoln County Humane Society at 905- 682-0767.
Linda Crabtree is a St. Catharines, Ontario resident, a former newspaper colleague of Niagara At Large publisher Doug Draper and one of the region’s most passionate advocates for people with disabilities.
(Visit Niagara At Large at www.niagaraatlarge.com for more news and commentary on matters of interest and concern to residents in our greater Niagara region and beyond.)
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Pingback: Wilbur, The Pot-Bellied Pig, In Desperate Need Of A Nice Home
Pigs bring back bad memories for me, back in Wales during the war we managed a farm that had many pigs one was named George my name I was 4 years old when I overhaerd a conversation that the butcher was coming and he going to kill George I saw the butcher in the bloodstained apron and heard the horrible squealing of the pigs , so I high tailed it and hid for the rest of the day until the butcher left. I remember that day as if it was yesterday.
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I don’t normally comment on my own site but I can’t help but say that I find it interesting that the only comment received to date on a nice piece Linda Crabtree wrote about a pot-bellied pig that needs a home is one on someone’s early trauma around the slaughtering of pigs. I guess I was naively hoping that a few might offer some good words about the rewards that come from bonding with an interesting animal like this. But no. It’s an interesting world we live in, isn’t it folks? Let’s blow billions of dollars we could be spending on improving the quality of life in our country on those new jet fighters and, by all means, let the wars continue. That seems to be what our species is good at.
Doug Draper, Niagara At Large.
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Im originally from Jordan , now living in London. I have a two year old female pot bellied pig, and we love her to bits! Let me tell you if we had a bigger house/yard, Wilbur would already have a home! They make great pets!! Ours lives inside, but does have a smaller outdoor pen, we walk her everyday, using her favorite low fat treat.. popcorn! If you dont mind talking to strangers pigs are great! Everyone wants to pet a piggy and ask you a hundred questions about having one! They are the most cleantest pets!! Much cleaner then dogs or even cats!! If you want a fabulous interactive pet, with amazing personalities, choose Wilbur! I couldnt imagine my life without our Maggie! Too see what a great pet they can be you can check out Maggies pics on her OWN page on Facebook.. just search Maggie the pig fanclub!! Good luck Wilbur! I will be praying you get a new loving family!!
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As the aforementioned Maggie’s Nana I can also vouch for the many good things about pot belly piggies. Maggie is very clean and when she comes to visit ( yes she likes to sleep over at Nana’s too! ) she makes herself at home both inside and out. She’s smart and quick to learn. We have a lovely outside pen for her when the weather is nice and she gets along famously with all the cats that live with us. I hope someone can find room in their life for Wilbur, they won’t be sorry.
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I was separated from her for a decade before her untimely death due to a medical snafu at the hospital, but my ex had not one but two Vietnamese Pot Bellied Pigs. They are cute as the devil when young…but grow up. I recall hearing how they were supposed to grow to between 90 – 125 lbs. but the one she managed to keep for years…was named Wilbur.
He ended up at a guest ranch/camp -type location for a while, but she also had Old English Sheepdogs she treasured and I don’t recall the Old Bob who was the real love of her life having any problem getting along.
It brings back memories.
But, I live in an apartment out West and never had much interest in keeping pigs indoors. Too big.
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My dad fancied himself as a farmer’s son and we had a litter of pigs raised for meat when I was a kid too. I was impressed by how intelligent and curious and clean they were – compared to my pony they chose one corner to do their business and didn’ trample and track it all over (not a fair criticism probably – wild horses probably keep moving in a range with their heards, unlike pigs.)
When I remember them, it makes me feel REALLY guilty about not being a vegetarian.
Doug has a good point – my pets always remind me about how easy it is to make them happy, unlike people. The simple things – exercising together, a pat, eye contact – instead of sniping about toilets seat position, etc.
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