Suffering due to human ignorance must stop
As the exhaustion of April’s exam season finally started to ebb, I spent my first summer as a vet student in what was essentially my dream job. For two months I was an employee at Kingston’s Happy Tails Farm Sanctuary, a rescue and education centre featuring pigs, alpacas, sheep, goats, and a large flock of various birds, among other species.
Considering that I entered my position as an “evidenced-based” kind of girl, I spent a surprising amount of time talking about things that do not exist. Like a trained fighter, my summer consisted of swinging left at misconceptions and right at blatant untruths, all while maintaining respectful dialogue to ensure the conversation remained informative, not condescending. (Yelling “FAKE NEWS,” even facetiously, just doesn’t seem to fly when you’re in academia).
Most prominently, there was plenty of discussion with supporters and visitors about the myth of the teacup pig. For those of you who may be unfamiliar with these adorable creatures (on account of the fact that they are totally fictional), teacup pigs are what animal owners believe they are receiving when they purchase swine from a self-declared breeder. Somewhere along the way, the notion that this “micropig” will stay cute and small forever has become widely accepted by the general public.
What breeders conveniently tend to forget disclosing to consumers is that none of these pigs will stay little for long, and certainly not small enough to fit in a dish one enjoys with the Queen on a Tuesday afternoon. Potbelly pigs not only grow to be 100 to 300 pounds, but the behaviours considered cute when exhibited at a few months of age can become destructive and even dangerous as their actual size at adulthood is reached and hormones kick in.
Let it be known that (all) pigs can bite. They have teeth, tusks, and powerful jaws; they display dominance behaviour that is normal for their species but can cause injury to humans and other animals; they poop and pee more than any suburban dweller would find tolerable. These incredibly intelligent animals also have physical and social needs that cannot be satisfied by the typical citizen.
I cannot stress enough how important it is for any potential pet owner to do their proper research (hint: Facebook and/or clicking the first Google search result leading to an anonymous blog doesn’t count). As a result of human ignorance, sanctuaries across the province are beyond capacity to take in the countless “teacup” pigs currently needing a home through no fault of their own.
When assuming responsibility for the life of another, it is imperative to ensure that one’s decision is thoroughly informed. To do anything less is irresponsible, possibly illegal, and worst of all — cruel. Please, be a responsible pet owner.