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Farm pigs are only adopted out to other sanctuaries,
and several of the big pigs are permanent residents of Happy Trails.
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 Cisco
& Celita A pair of beautiful pink farm pigs, having
survived some horrific conditions together, used each other for
strength and comfort. They were nailed shut in a small 4'x4' area,
completely covered with, living on and sleeping in 5" thick of their
own feces and urine, with no dry place to lay down. The photo is of
them at their first night at Happy Trails, exploring an interesting
area of woods where they were given their first drink of clear,
clean water in a very, very long time. The odor coming from the
dried manure over their poor little bodies was horrific, and they
definitely needed some cleaning up. These two precious babies are
now growing up in an atmosphere of kindness and compassion, and now
are experiencing the freedom of running and playing in a spacious
yard filled with green grass, shade trees and piggy mud wallers. |
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 Garfunkle
Probably the most gentle pig in the entire world, Garfunkle was
discovered living in conditions equal to the ones described above
for Cisco and Celita. His one and only companion had been removed
the week before and butchered for pig roast. Garfunkle wasn't
gaining any weight, but he was slated to be next. Thankfully, he won
his freedom, and now enjoys the cool autumn breeze under the big
trees in the woods at Happy Trails. He so very much enjoys the
company of people, and likes long conversations and belly rubs! |
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 Mona
Lisa A pink ten month old baby girl who is the most
personable pig you will ever find! She came to Happy Trails as a
small piglet, and grew up with much love, care and attention. She is
rather spoiled, and has a truly wonderful personality. She has been
rudely thrown over fence, where she had hit her head on a gate,
causing a hematoma near her ear. She was tossed three times before
the rescue worker was able secure her removal from the livestock
farmer. Mona Lisa has recovered and now lives in peace and safety at
the sanctuary, along with her other pink piggy friends, Celita,
Cisco, and Garfunkle! |
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Mrs. Beasley, Maria Pigget and Oliver
All three of these 1,000 lbs. + big pigs are permanent residents of
the sanctuary. Mrs. Beasley is a true love, and is getting up there
in years. Oliver sometimes has problems with arthritis creeping up
on him, and is starting to get some issues with his hind quarters.
Maria Pigget is best friends with these other two piggies, and we
wouldn't dream of taking her away from them. Oliver had been dumped
in the outside dog kennels at a county humane society in the middle
of winter when he was just a baby. His tail had already been chopped
off and his ears notched. He is lucky he didn't freeze to death, and
the shelter called Happy Trails for assistance with this piggy when
they discovered him the following morning. Maria Pigget had escaped
from a local slaughterhouse and was found nursing off the
neighboring cows. This story caught the attention of the media
during the Christmas holiday about four years ago. Due to public
opinion, the slaughterhouse decided not to butcher this particular
pig with a very strong will to live. Happy Trails was contacted by
the local newspaper, and we agreed to give Maria a safe, caring
place to call home. However, the scenes in the slaughterhouse that
Maria experienced early on in her life have never been erased in her
memory, and she is still wary of people. I arrived to pick up the
pick, and was met by a worker wearing a butcher's apron covered in
the pieces and parts of the pigs he was in the process of butchering
— many of whom I'm sure were Maria's friends. We now follow her
rules, and can stand near her, feed her, and walk around her. But to
touch her or pet her is out of the question, and her rules do not
allow for any of that. We respect her and treat her with dignity,
and she goes about her business and deals with her own mental pain
and sorrow in a way that only she knows about. We hope daily that
one day she will be able to experienced peace and can put behind her
some of the horror that she experienced first hand in the
slaughterhouse. |
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