Pictures of teeny tiny pigs are all over the internet, but the unfortunate truth is that most of those pictures are just of piglets! We have written before about the dark side of the teacup pig craze. Pigs labeled “teacup” are oftentimes still able to grow up to 100-150 pounds; they’re only “teacup” in comparison to a market hog (a pig raised to be sold in market to a meat company) which can weigh 300+ pounds… Some pigs, raised on farms for breeding, can reach up to 700 pounds! Unfortunately, many pet pigs are abandoned or sold to be slaughtered when they become too big for owners.
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One man fell for this trap when he adopted Esther, a piglet which he thought would be “micro.” Well Esther grew and grew… and kept growing. Now Esther is 650 pounds! But her owners still adore her. In fact, her owners have written a book about their experience with Esther, and they’re using their story to spread awareness about the treatment of pigs. In fact, their love for Esther is so great, the man who brought her home wrote the following letter to Esther on her fourth birthday, and proudly posted it to the Esther the Wonder Pig Facebook page.
Facebook
Dear Esther, Four years ago today we met you for the very first time. I’ll never forget the way you trembled and looked up at me from the laundry basket you were delivered in. Your tiny little sunburned ears, and those chipped pink nail polished toes. You looked so sad! I took you home much to your other dad’s surprise, and although he wasn’t very happy with me for a few days, the magic of “The Esther Effect” was already at work. We watched you play with the dogs, run to your toy box, and shake your little head like crazy with your teddy bears. We cuddled while you fell asleep, and we taught you the rules of the house….which you broke constantly in your own hilarious way. We would laugh and play, forgetting entirely what was going on around us. It was only a matter of time before that amazing smile did its thing. You had completely stolen our hearts.
Sometimes I pass wind when people hug me too hard. A photo posted by Esther The Wonder Pig (@estherthewonderpig) on
But in the process you also took something else from us, our ability to ignore what you were born for. We learned what it meant that you had a stubby little tail and that you were in fact not the mini pig we thought you were. We had never given it a second thought before, but all of a sudden we found ourselves making the connection. You were supposed to spend the first three years of your life in a crate delivering baby after baby that would be taken from you. Then before long, you yourself would’ve been taken away when you grew too tired to produce. You were supposed to be someone’s dinner, someone who like us didn’t realize the intelligent, emotional, and sensitive animal you are.
Although we take comfort knowing we made that connection, and that you’re safe and always will be; I’m sorry we participated in this and that it took us so long to realize that we could do better. I’m sorry for the horrible things people do to your kind in a hell on earth that we created for you, and I’m most sorry that you never got the chance to know your mom, your dad, or any of your beautiful brothers and sisters. We would give anything for the chance to reunite you. We hope you take comfort in knowing you’re helping to open hearts and minds every single day, and we hope you know how much you are loved. You made us the people we are today, and we will forever be grateful for the day we met you on that chilly August morning in 2012.
“In a world full of people who couldn’t care less, be someone who couldn’t care more.” -Unknown. #BeKindToAnimals. A photo posted by Esther The Wonder Pig (@estherthewonderpig) on
Thank you for being a daily source of inspiration, and smiles. You make even the hardest days happy.
Love you so much noodle.
Xoxo
Dad.
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