Shorty became emaciated and appeared to have given up on life. Thankfully, a guardian angel found him and called us for help and advice. Not knowing that he was the pig we had offered a home to only a few months before, we rushed right over to help and suggested that we bring him to our sanctuary. Two days later that became a necessity when his new owner put him outside of her fence under a bush just before a winter storm was to hit. The other animals would not let him inside the shelter and it was the best that she felt that she could do for him.

The tiny, emaciated old pig went from freezing to death under a bush to our warm living room. We began the task of getting him to eat again and helping him find strength. A urine culture found him to have a serious kidney infection and on Christmas day a trip to our vet got the right medications for him. He rallied on the medication and began to eat with great gusto and enjoyed time outside grazing and lying in the sun. But the medication bought Shorty only a few short days of bliss. A few days after Christmas he began to go downhill and a visit to the vet revealed that it was too late to save this sweet little warrior. His fate had been sealed before he arrived at our home. He was now suffering from a ruptured internal abscess and his abdomen was filled with infection. There was no hope of recovery and the only thing to do was to release him from his now terrible suffering.

We will never know why his original family decided that our facility was not a suitable place for their little pig. Perhaps they felt that we would not be able to give him the individual attention to which he was accustomed. This is not unheard of since several potbellied pig breeders actually have a clause in their contract forbidding placement of their pigs in a sanctuary. Our hope is that we can use this sad tale to educate those needing to find a home for their animals--be it a pig or a horse or a goat or a rabbit--that they consider some factors in a potential home. The older ones are hit the hardest when it comes to losing a home, but they too can find comfort and pleasure in their remaining years if the time is taken to find them a suitable new home. Here are some questions you should ask before turning over your elderly animal to a new caretaker:

1. HOUSING - Do the older animals have a private eating/sleeping area where they do not have to compete with younger and stronger animals? Is there adequate living area so that animals are not crowded together? Many species of animals are very cliquish and quite cruel to newcomers. A group of younger animals will very likely kick a newcomer out and not allow them shelter in bad weather. The newcomer needs their own safe space. What policies at the facility are in place to make this transition as easy for the animal as possible and to help him assimilate in with the new animals once the quarantine period is over? Is the shelter guaranteed, adequate and temperature controlled? Older animals will need extra consideration to stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
2. WATER – Fresh water that can be reached by all animals should be available at all times. Is warm water provided during the winter when aging teeth can cause an older animal to be reluctant to drink? In the summer, is fresh water kept under a shaded area to keep it cool and replenished/cleaned at least once a day? Is the bowl or bucket easily accessed by compromised animals and designed not to be knocked over? If the animal is a pig, is there a cool mud hole to keep cool during the summer?
3. FOOD - Are older animals provided with food to meet with their special nutritional needs? Is dental care provided?
4. SPECIAL NEEDS - Do they have a medical protocol for pain relief when arthritis begins to take its toll on an older animal? There are also preventative measures that can be taken before the animal becomes compromised. What has been done in the animal’s living quarters to make life with arthritis more comfortable? Older animals need solid, non-slip, flat footing. They need rubber mats to sleep on and extra bedding. They need someone to look in on them frequently and make sure that they are well and comfortable.
5. VET CARE - Do they have an experienced vet ready and willing to treat this animal species and a way to transport the animal to the vet if an emergency arises? What parasite prevention measures are ongoing? Older animals often become less resistant to parasites. What measures are taken to quarantine new and sick animals? Ask for the vet’s name as a reference and do call and talk to them. Ask for the references of other people who have surrendered their animals there as well.
6. OVERALL EVALUATION – Look at the other animals. Do they all look healthy and at a good weight? If any are obese, ask the history and what is being done to get the animal to an acceptable weight. If any are underweight, ask the same questions. Water buckets should be clean, no food residue should be seen in food bowels, hay and bedding should be fresh and clean smelling. Don’t be afraid to push some of the bedding away and see what is underneath. Small animals such as pigs spend much time sleeping in the bedding and it is important that it not be dusty or urine coated underneath. Ask what happened to the last animals that died there. What did they die of and what was done to save them? It may not be easy to ask some of these questions, but much harder to ask yourself why you didn’t inquire after it is too late!
7. WHEN THE TIME COMES: What is their policy on euthanasia and do they make every attempt to save animals not deemed grave or hopeless in their prognosis? Do they leave the animal to die alone and possibly suffer for hours or days if the prognosis is hopeless and filled with pain? These unpleasant questions need to be respectfully asked if you want to assure that your animal friend meets the end that you would envision for them.
8. Lastly, what is your commitment to this animal? Are you willing to pay for a sponsorship for your animal? Are you willing to step up to the plate and agree to pay for vet bills incurred in order to save a life or make that life more comfortable? It is in the best interest of every animal to have a back up plan in case they should lose their guardian unexpectedly. We have animals here that have come from very wealthy owners who neglected to make these arrangements. Their heirs did not take the responsibility one would have hoped for these beloved companions and opted to have them put down rather than undergo any expense for their upkeep. The time to look for a forever home for your animal is NOW. It is also important to make those arrangements legally binding. Many estate planners understand the need to make arrangements for much loved animals and will help you to do this.

As sad as the ending was for Shorty, at least he miraculously found his way back to where he belonged. He didn’t freeze to death under a bush but now lies forever under the pile of soft leaves that were warmed by a special December sun.