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Piggy Protest

October 09, 2009, 3:31PM MT

By Yvonne McIntosh and Cathy Scott

“Teacup” pigs? There’s no such thing, so help put an end to their recent publicity by voicing your opinion to the “Today Show” and New York Post.

We here at Piggy Paradise and Best Friends are committed to working toward a time when there are No More Homeless Pets, which includes the ever so personable and highly intelligent potbellied pigs.

A disturbing thing has happened: Baby pigs, supposedly the size of “teacups,” are being promoted by the media.

Now is your chance to take action on behalf of potbellied piglets who are being hyped by TV and news, exacerbating an already growing problem of potbellied pigs being discarded when they’re no longer babies and they grow beyond the small size promised by the breeders and sellers whose biggest interest is typically the money.

A famed trick used by these breeders is to breed pigs who are only a few months old. By the time the litter is born, the parents are only 8-9 months old and still not close to being their full size. The breeders then tell folks that the piglets will be no bigger than the parents are at that time. In reality, it can take four years for pigs to finish growing.

Unfortunately, most people believe the breeders/sellers and do not educate themselves about the truth before they buy the pigs. Most “teacup,” “mini” and “micro” pigs are dumped by people when they grow up because they grow to be bigger than the people expected. This has been going on for decades in the U.S.

Most recently, the “Today Show” included a segment that touted so-called “teacup” piglets in the U.K. Because of the publicity, a Florida breeder quoted in yet another story, this one in the New York Post, said she couldn’t keep up with the demand. It can cause a domino effect, similar to what happened with Dalmatian dogs after the “101 Dalmatians” movie and the Chihuahua craze because of the popular Chihuahua in Taco Bell commercials.

Sprocket (to the left) has now grown up and is available for adoption

To voice your opinion and help educate the producers, reporters and editors at these news outlets, please contact the “Today Show” and the New York Post. The contact information is below.

Together, we can make a difference for these pigs.

Thank you for your help!

Yvonne McIntosh, manager, Piggy Paradise

How you can help

You can post a comment on New York Post article.

To e-mail Letters to the Editor: letters@nypost.com

And here’s the “Today Show” segment and article on MSNBC.

To e-mail the “Today Show”: TODAY@nbcuni.com

Or you can mail a letter to:

NBC News

30 Rockefeller Plaza

New York, NY 10112

For more information about pigs as pets, and dispelling misconceptions, become a fan of the Piggy Paradise group on the Network.

If you are educated and interested in adding a pig to your family, see the Best Friends Adorable Adoptables.

Photos by Jennifer Hayes

Comments

Posted October 12, 2009, 8:5AM by ellengilmore

Millions of pets die in shelters every year because their families have decided to let them go for some reason, and that sad reality has worsened during the past year of economic crisis. Pets should never be viewed as a designer item to be acquired and discarded like the latest fad. Anyone bringing any kind of pet into his or her life should do so with full knowledge of the care required and a commitment to meet that animal’s needs for both physical and psychological health for life. Ellen Gilmore Campaign Specialist FIRST HOME FOREVER HOME

Posted October 12, 2009, 11:23AM by dixiesherman

I have just contacted all the above editors, tv stations etc. I hope it will do some good, but usually when these things happen it is rare that the stations or papers are willing to follow up with the truth. Just another money making scheme at the expense of the pets. It is another sad day in America.

Posted October 12, 2009, 4:55PM by carrie_fosters

I was horrified to see one of these spots on tv the other night. Although the narrator mentioned that the pigs grew "up to 50#", all they showed were tiny babies. Even 50# is huge if you think you're getting a "pocket pet". Get a hamster!

Posted October 13, 2009, 9:35AM by lovefelines2003

I too just emailed all of the above. This breaks my heart. More so called responsible journalists spreading untruths without checking the facts first. These beautiful and intelligent creatures deserve our best - not these horrible news segments. Thank you for writing this article and allowing us a chance to write to the stations/papers. Shame on them!

Posted October 13, 2009, 11:31AM by mxipp

I saw an article on these pigs months ago in a women's magazine, wrote the editor and never even got a form letter in response! Then last week there was an article on these pigs in the Reno newspaper and I posted a comment that day. How many months before shelters around the country are flooded with these poor animals as people get tired of them when they outgrow their "cute" stage? Horrible situation.

Posted October 13, 2009, 1:55PM by valetonic

I have also e-mailed these people. Although as stated in previous comments, unfortunately I don't believe these people are interested in the truth or balanced reporting. They are just interested in sensationalism. Just look at what they have done for Pit Bulls! I was reading about Paris Hilton (of course) buying one of these poor creatures. Where one weak minded individual leads, others will follow........

Posted October 14, 2009, 7:37PM by duckyjd

Yvonne - Thank you so much for sharing this info. I did see the Today show coverage and wanted to scream. Kisses to Harley, Sprocket and Raisin. ~ Kim in Chicago

Posted October 15, 2009, 12:53PM by phoenixstrength

I saw the spots on TV too, and was horrified. 50lbs? More like 150 lbs, and then dumped because of lying breeders and owners who don't do their research before they buy them. Makes me so mad, but so glad that there is Best Friends and the wonderful Yvonne to educate people. Too bad it won't reach everyone, but every person reached is making a difference. Stephanie

Posted November 05, 2009, 3:18PM by VirgilMcB

I doubt there would be as much of a problem if these potbellies grew to "only" 50 lbs. I believe that 200 to 300 lbs is more typical, and if the pigs grow obese, which is very easy with care based on pignorance or convenience, then much higher weights can occur. These pigs can be awfully sweet and wonderful companions with proper care, but they're not tiny! And Molly, Best Friends' first pot bellied pig, could be very intimidating if she didn't know you.

Posted November 05, 2009, 6:58PM by becker271

Animal Planet was recently promoting this story on its Facebook Page. Please go there and tell them this is not OK! http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/AnimalPlanet?ref=mf Or post a comment on the Discovery blog entry: http://blogs.discovery.com/daily_treat/2009/11/a-sow-so-now-micropiglets.html?smid=FBAPL-DEF-TBG