Dear Wee Ones,
I know you have heard a lot of talk around the kitchen lately about
"stuff" and I wanted to assure you of a few things:
First of all, I am so sorry that your Mom died shortly after you
were born and that no one got the vet to help her when she was hurt. A
true friend of all pigs saw the ad in the paper that
breeder was going out of business. She took home all the adults and
made sure that you came here. Without her, each of you would have been
sold off alone at such a tender age that your very survival would have
been doubtful. Your one auntie had three babies, the other was spayed and
your daddy neutered.
You have been Rescued. That means that someone has now taken
responsibility for you for the rest of your little lives. From now on,
every decision will be guided by what is best for you. You are in a
Sanctuary. That is a very special place where no harm can ever come to
you. A place where each and every animal that comes through the gates is
loved and respected equally for who they are. There is no requirement for
this. We love the 14 year old Petunia that sleeps all day and wants
nothing to do with us as much as we do you. The animals here are not
"owned" by anyone. They are considered lifelong blessings and
fellow travelers on this wonderful journey called Life that you began some
weeks ago.
Here are our promises to you:
- You will only go to a new home if it is a better place than you
have here. As you can see Dad and I try very hard to always be improving
the facilities here so that pigs get to live like the Good Lord intended.
This means that you will have access to lots of grass, sunshine and the
creek to play in. Everyone has sturdy houses to keep them warm in the
winter and cool in the summer with lots of clean sweet hay and straw to
bury themselves in - good fences to keep danger out. We will never send
you off to live out your life in a small pen or to a place where you only
live indoors - even if it is air conditioned. We know how much you love
the sunshine and the dirt and the grass and the cool water and the breeze
on your bristles.
- Although we never send a pig to live a life without another pig
to talk to and share life with, you all will find a new home with a
brother or sister. You have known too much sadness and loss for one
lifetime.
- You will be spayed or neutered before you leave. This will keep
you healthy and assure that you don't ever take part in the heartache that
we get calls about every day here - too many pigs and no place for them to
go. Close to sixty pigs were spayed/neutered here this past year so this
is a priority for us.
- Your new parents will have to promise in writing that if they
ever have to leave you, that you MUST come back here. We won't let you go
that far from us that we can't come and get you -so don't you ever worry.
You have a home waiting forever. A little chip will be implanted in your
neck while you have your surgery so that if you ever do get lost, we can
find you again.
- Your new parents must make the same promise to you that we do -
the same promise that we make to each and every pig here. If you ever get
sick or hurt, that we will get you the best medical care there is
regardless of how much it costs, regardless of if it's our anniversary
and/or Christmas Eve. They must always put your needs first and foremost.
You won't even go to a home unless they have an experienced potbelly vet
to care for you.
- If anything ever does happen to Dad and I, we have made
provisions for all the animals here. You will never be a burden to anyone
and always, always, always have a home.
We will work hard to help your kind. If there is something we can
possibly do to help- we will. If we hear of someone harming pigs - we will
find out the truth and speak up. We love pigs--all pigs--those who live
here and those that do not.
We are not perfect. Mistakes are made and lessons learned. But know
little piglets, that we promise to do our level best to make certain that
you are forever safe from harm and as happy as little pigs can be. You
deserve nothing less. That is who we are. That is what we do. Like so many
other wonderful people that we are blessed to know, we Rescue and this is
a Sanctuary.
--Lorelei
VAPP Home | Contact Us | © 2007 Virginia
Alliance for Potbellied Pigs. All rights reserved.
ABOUT VAPP:
We believe that all pigs can find a home where they
will be loved and cherished if we will network together, promote the
adoption of mature pigs, promote rescued pigs over breeder's pigs, and recruit
volunteers for foster home, home checks, and follow-up visits.