Pet Pig

[Miss Inquiry]

I am toying with the idea of possibly getting a pig. Do you know if it is possible to buy a pygmy pig? Are there any leagal restrictions? Do I need a certain certificate to have one, a specific amount of garden space? I only have a small garden, 3 cats, and am really good friends with my neighbours, all things I need to consider if I would eventually get a pig. Do you know anyone with one, or have any experience of owning pigs, know where I could get more detailed information?

[divegirl]

Hi, this is all I could find....there is a care sheet you can download at the bottom of it.

http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Satellite?page name=RSPCA/RSPCARedirect&pg=FarmyardAnimalsPet Care&marker=1&articleId=1154077760661

Lisa x

[Miss Inquiry]

Thanks so much for this. Much appreciated.

[lankeela]

You will not have a small garden for long, you will have a small mud patch/dung heap. Pigs love rooting and will turn your garden over in a matter of hours. As for having neighbours who are good friends, make the most of it - they sure as h*ll wont be for long when they see the mess and smell.

They also love to scratch and will rub themselves on any fences/posts/buildings, so they need to be really secure and hard wearing or they will knock them over.

There are restrictions on moving pigs and if there is ever a foot and mouth outbreak or SVD outbreak in your area you may have to have it slaughtered.

Male pigs can be very dominant and can attack for no reason and females can be very difficult when in season.

Apart from that I am sure pigs make lovely pets, they sure make lovely chops and bacon!

[Noweia]

Further to previous answers, I now someone who had a potbelly pig and had to have it destroyed because it kept uprooted their fences and escaping onto the road!

Not a pet to be taken lightly.

[kelebek]

I've heard some very mixed reports about pigs kept as pets but I assume that a pygmy pig is just a small pig not actually a true breed of pig?

Here are a few links for you to look at.

exoticpets.about.com/cs/potbelliedpigs/a/pbpexpect.htm
www.swindon.gov.uk/print/keeping_vietnamese_pigs.pdf

[Miss Inquiry]

My garden is only 10mx12m, a pig legally needs 6mx6m. Having read that pigs are reall social animals I would have to get 2, having one sad depressed pig would be really upsetting, as my garden is under the legal size for 2 I have sadly decided against it. I would love to rescue pigs, but I don't think my garden would be a suitable enought home for them to live happily.
Thanks for all your answers though, much appreciated.

[lankeela]

At last a another sensible ABer!

Why don't you visit a local rescue centre, you may be able to 'adopt' a pig and help towards its keep. Some send photos and you can visit them.

Some I know of are PACT in Norfolk, Venture Farm Animal Trust, and the one in Norwich which specialises in farm animals, can't remember the name, but I will try to find it for you.


Well done you for taking well meant advice.

[lankeela]

http://www.farmanimalrescue.org.uk

Not the one I was thinking of, but they have got pigs for adoption!

Google Farm Animal Rescue, there are loads on there.

[Pipsie]

ok i know you have the answers you need but i do have to say that if you ever have the space to get a pig then i would sujest that you do, they are wonderful animals to have as pets, whilst i was a teenager my parents had 3 sows and a boar of the pot bellied variety, when we got them they were totally wild, meaning the second you went near them they were off running hell for leather to the other side of thier enclosure but as time passed we got to know them and them us and began a brilliant relationship with them, i quickly found out that they are one of the cleanest animal on the planet and given the space will eat, sleep, poo, drink in entirely different places. they will never poo where thier food or water is and do prefer to poo in a certain area. they also need to sleep in a well insulated place, we had a shed for them but thier sleep part was a raised bed lined with straw plus a canopy of straw above. they also get sunburnt so sunscreen is a must for them, plus you can get a pig oil for thier skin as it does dry out and can crack causing them some discomfort, but when you do rub the oil in it will help them to bond to you,
they do need alot of space to rut in but this can be stopped to a certain extent by putting a ring in thier nose (which i don't like) there is also the issue of a movement order which you need when getting a pig its not like a dog where you can just pick up you actually have to inform someone (whom i forget but can find out) when you move them from one place to another regardless if it maybe 100 yards or 100 miles.
But besides all this they make gorgeous pets and very loving pets and easily trained pets (not to mention the fact they make a brilliant waste disposal unit well all except pork products)
by they way the pigs names we had were
Daisy
Ermintrude
Gladys
and the boar was
Baldrick.

[Miss Inquiry]

Thank you all SO much for your excellent answers. This site is wonderful when people actually help eachother rather than just innane ranting.

Pipsie I loved reading your answer, I just wish I had the space, I love animals, especially pigs being on of the most intelligent and clean creatures about. I am simply going to have to adopt one, along with the giraffe and monkey I already adopt!! Might try to persuade (totally unsubtely drop hints) to Mr Inquiry to adopt me my own little piggy for xmas.

[beryllium]

Hi there Miss Inquiry,
We have a Vietnamese Pot Bellie as a family pet. She came with the house lol. She is getting very old now and sleeps for the most part, snoring very very loudly!!! she sleeps in one of the stables at the mo but is having a new shed built for her. She does go for a wander and eats all the acorns that have fallen and yes..... they love a good scratch!!! She used to suffer with the most awful PMT hehe and chased my sis in law over the fence!!! they do bite!!! she loves her pig nuts and bread and tomatoes and water of course.....
She is getting very old now and we wonder how she's still going.... we think she's about 12 or older.....
Good luck with adopting your pet pig :-) it sounds like the best way to go for you.......
Now then, I'm off to persuade mr B. to get a move on with my chicken shed!!! I've fallen in love with Leghorns.....
Always something for you to consider too......
B. xXx