Myth vs. Fact

You may have seen a TV show, online video, or news article about "miniature pigs."  Unscrupulous breeders have given them names like “mini-pigs," “teacup pigs," “royal dandies," and “micro minis.”  In reality, what people are seeing are baby potbellied pigs, in many cases not more than a week or two old.

The public is being seriously misled about the nature of pigs in general and about potbellied pigs in particular. Pigs are pigs, no matter what the breed. All pig babies are small, but they grow fast and increase their size dramatically. According to an Ohio State University Farm Bulletin, “The pig is a fast-growing animal with the potential of achieving more than a hundredfold increase in body weight before 12 months of age.”<http://ohioline.osu.edu/b869/>

Lil Orphan Hammies is a sanctuary for abused and abandoned potbellied pigs that has existed since we've seen hundreds of cases of people who are overwhelmed by what they thought was going to be a “mini- pig.”  The truth is that potbellied pigs can easily end up being between 200 and 300 pounds. People often don’t understand that pigs are not dogs with large noses. Pigs do not have the same behavior as dogs, and their needs are quite different. Most people are not able to deal with the typical behavior of a pig as a pet, and, after a few months, they want to get rid of it.  Lil Orphan Hammies has a steady population of about 100 potbellied pigs who have been thrown away by their owners or, even worse, seriously abused and mistreated. But this is a drop in the proverbial bucket as every year hundreds of dismayed owners discard potbellied pigs that were purchased as pets. This is far more than the shelters in the U.S. can deal with, and, as a result, many of them are killed simply to get rid of them.  

Pigs are wonderful animals. They are intelligent and have strong personalities, and they may seem like they could make good pets. But the truth is that pigs make terrible pets for most people, and the result is the ongoing cruelty towards and abandonment of these animals simply for being what they are.  Potbellied pigs do not belong in most people’s homes.  If you think you might want to have a potbellied pig as a pet, please contact Lil Orphan Hammies or another reputable shelter to discuss the realities of caring for a pig.  You can also check out the "Care of Potbellied Pigs" section of the Lil Orphan Hammies website.