Little Piggy is not going to Market

Thank you for the post Inda.

This is from the Toronto Star newspaper


Susan Sampson
TORONTO STAR

Wiggles got a lucky break.

The piglet broke her leg, likely after falling off a livestock truck on Highway 401. But she was rescued and will end up at a good home instead of an abattoir.

Good Samaritan Brian Bowes was on his way to work in Cambridge on Monday morning when he saw the piglet lying by the side of the road, "shivering like crazy." There was an accident up ahead, Bowes says, so he was doing about 40 to 60 km/h in the fast lane, westbound on Highway 401 near Mavis Rd.

Other drivers slowed down to gawk, but no one stopped. He did. He pulled over, bundled the piglet into his car and turned around. Forty-five minutes later, he was downtown, handing her over to the Toronto Humane Society on River St.

"I'm a regular animal lover," says Bowes, adding that he handled the piglet despite the swine flu scare.

Bowes didn't see a livestock truck, but there's no question in his mind that the piglet had fallen off one. "She was really, really beat up – lots of cuts, scrapes and gashes," says Bowes, a 31-year-old computer network engineer who lives in Toronto.At the animal shelter, vets gave the dehydrated piglet water through a syringe, and she wiggled her backside – hence the name Wiggles. The cuts and bruises on her feet, head and backside were treated.

But her leg is broken at the knee and the bone will have to be pinned. Wiggles is set to have surgery this week.

"She's doing better," says Ian McConachie, senior communicator at the Toronto Humane Society. Yesterday, he saw her up and moving around in her cage, and eating on her own.

McConachie says a farm pig hasn't been brought to the animal shelter for about 30 years.

It's been about 15 years – when potbellied pigs were popular – since staff tended any pig, he adds.

The society is not looking for the farm Wiggles came from or the truck she fell from.

"The tragedy is that this pig probably won't even be missed," McConachie says. "It's just a commodity."

After surgery, the now 2- to 3-month-old Wiggles will recuperate at the shelter for six to 12 weeks. But this little piggy, who now weighs about 5.5 kilos, is not going to market. She's moving to a petting zoo, animal sanctuary or hobby farm, McConachie says.

"She's not going back into the factory farm chain and becoming food. She's been through enough."

Thank you for this post Inda and your added information Sue.

It is nice to know that there are still some kind and caring people in this world. All this makes me feel really good.

Love,
yoko

Thank you for your replies, and thank you Sue for all the information.

Here is some of the latest update, May 29, from the 'Toronto Sun' newspaper:


... the little piggy that didn't go to market, is doing better but still awaiting surgery.

A Good Samaritan saved the piglet Monday after spotting her clinging to the inside shoulder of Hwy. 401, near Mavis Rd.

She's set to have surgery tomorrow to fix a broken ham hock.

Toronto Humane Society officials took in Wiggles -- she had a broken leg and a few scrapes and bruises -- and have been nursing her back to health.

"There is a condition known as Porcine Stress Syndrome, which can be fatal and usually comes about after suffering a traumatic event," said humane society spokesman Ian McConachie, who added that the pig was dehydrated when the animal protection agency took her in. "We needed her to be at 100% before we tried the surgery."

McConachie said Wiggles is doing well, acting more and more like a pig, gobbling up food on her own now.

She's picky, however, choosing to eat only peeled apples.

Because of her near-death experience, Wiggles won't end up on anyone's plate. Officials have vowed to adopt her out to a farm or petting zoo that promises to give her a long life.

Veterinarians had to wait at least three days to fix Wiggles' leg.

The society has received a number of offers from people on farms and at sanctuaries who promise to provide Wiggles with a comfortable home.

"We need to do the surgery to determine the extent of the damage and see if there will be any long-term issues that will have to be dealt with by her new owners, such as mobility constraints," McConachie said. "We are hopeful for a full recovery, but until the surgery is done and we see positive progress on the rehabilitation, we cannot determine where to place her.

"Once we have a better idea of her needs, we will be picking the best location for her where she will be cared for and happy."

Thank you for the update Inda.

I have become quite anxious about the welfare of this little piggy. I hope that everything will turn out for the best for this little animal.

Love,
yoko

I read this in the newspaper.
I am so happy that a good person stopped and took care of the injured piggy. I hope that the surgery will go well and that a good home is found for Wiggles.

Love,
Vicky

Thank you for the post.
I was not able to read this article in the paper myself, but one of my neighbours told me about it. It is very nice to hear some good news once in a while.

Sincerely,
Gisele

Yes, it feels good to learn that a young man rescued this poor little pig. It looks like her accident will transform into her happiness, if they let her live a normal life.
It gives me nausea to think that there are these little tender pigs (and other animals of course too) who are only raised to end up as food on our tables. At least one hopes that they do not suffer, but there are many cases of forced growth in horrible conditions and that is unbearable.
I am happy for Wiggles!
Thank you so much for sharing this uplifting story!

Love,
Margherita

quote:

Originally posted by dear Margherita:
I am happy for Wiggles!
Thank you so much for sharing this uplifting story!

Love,
Margherita

Thank you Sue, yoko, Gisele, Vicky, Margherita and Teo for your replies and images.



I am sure that Wiggles will have a very good life from now on, thanks to the kind person who saved him.

Love, Inda