Sometimes rescue calls come when you least expect them. Earlier this summer, we received an urgent plea from another sanctuary – nineteen pigs were about to lose their lives.
Their owner was losing his land, time was running out, and unless safe homes could be found quickly, their future looked very bleak.
When they arrived, it was clear how much they had suffered. Skinny and weak, their skin covered in sores and lice, many had muscle wastage from being trapped in cramped pens.
They had been surviving on little more than raw potatoes.
What they needed most was care, space, and love.
The first to arrive was Rosita with her ten piglets.
At just eight weeks old, these little ones had their whole lives ahead of them – they just needed a chance.
Keeping them together as a family felt important, and they quickly settled into sanctuary life, exploring and playing as piglets should.
Next came Bruno, Rosita’s companion and the father of her piglets. As a large boar, he would have been almost impossible to rehome.
Yet behind his size is the gentlest of giants.
Bruno adores bananas, wallowing in the mud, and has already stolen our hearts.
The final group to arrive was five big girls, each with her own story.
Truffles and Snuffles had suffered badly with their skin, and Truffles is completely blind – yet today, both are thriving after treatment and have found comfort here.
Babe and Longnose, the younger pair, are bundles of curiosity and affection.
And then there is Penelope – or Lady P – the sweetest of souls who loves a belly rub and chats with soft grunts.
Sadly, she has joint problems that affect her mobility, but with pain relief and gentle care, we are helping her regain her strength.
All nineteen pigs now have what they never had before: space to roam, soft beds to rest in, and cooling wallows to enjoy. It wasn’t easy – we spent countless hours hauling water to create wallows during the hot weather, and we had to put up emergency fencing to keep everyone safe.
We still urgently need proper fencing and gates to make their new home secure. But when we see them relaxed, playful, and finally living as pigs should, we know every ounce of effort was worth it.
This rescue stretched us in every way – time, resources, and energy – but this is why The Farm exists: to step in when animals have nowhere else to go.
If you’d like to support the care of Rosita, Bruno, Penelope and their friends, a donation – no matter the size – will go directly towards giving them the life they deserve.
Together, we’ve turned desperation into hope. Thank you for being part of their story.
