Micro Pigs - peoples thoughts?

Frugalista

cleopatra4485 wrote: »

I am quite angry now that the news and other papers have promoted these animals as cute little pets without the other information if this is the case, can you imagine the amount of people who are now going out to buy them without doing the research first!

But isn't this the whole crux of the (rescue) matter - people not doing their research first - whether its a cat, dog, parrot or pig (etc, etc)??

Why are you angry that they haven't provided all the information? The article was one journalists take on it. What's wrong with people taking some responsibility themselves? Too many people let their feelings (or wants) overwhelm their commonsense - and it's the animals that usually pay the price in the end!

I'm not getting into the rights or wrongs of breeding these pigs (like I've already said, I wouldn't buy one) but the idiots jumping on the "must have/latest gimmick" bandwagon are just as culpable as the breeders of these animals and, therefore, have to take ownership of their part of the problem/process.

cleopatra4485

yes i agree people should, but they dont :-(

here is a video of an adult

YouTube - ziggy the mini pig

they look HUGE still and apparently they are house pets rather than outdoor and use the litter tray

foreign_correspondent

well, I suppose it is relative really - they are little for pigs... but big compared to many house pets, labrador sized is still relatively hefty!

I wouldnt want to have to clean out a litter try of pig !!!!!! every morning!

Of course people should research, but sadly many people don't - hence the rise in unwanted dalamations 6 months after releases of disney dalmation films, and the sudden appearance of terrapins in sewers and waterways after a famous turtle cartoon in the '80s!

louisdog

cleopatra you mention a pug puppy in your previous post, obviously all animals need thought and preparation and research but I would strongly recommend a pug as being a much more rewarding pet than a pig (even though as I said earlier I did keep pigs).

Anyway Good luck with whatever you decide (and good luck with the baby first!

cleopatra4485

Thanks louisdog

I was (probabaly like many) drawn to these cute little things and the news report I watched stated they do not get much bigger, I would say that is missleading as after some research, they actually are quite big and probabaly get 10 times bigger.

Yes baby first, but I miss having a pet around (mum has made a new friend in my puddy)

Looks like a little pug (always wanted one) will be the sensible choice and a rescue cat.

eyoung_2

I've just seen micro-pigs for the first time today and I'm totally in love! But I do think like most pets they would require a lot of care and attention. And I don't think they will stay that small forever....

There's an article on the Marie Claire website today about how david and victoria beckham have bought some... but they have got a farm for them to live on!

Spudette

:happyhearSoooooooooooo Cute!

lowis

Micro Pigs are only 'micro' when they are babies. they grow to knee height and are quite cumbersome when fully grown.

i think this whole micro pig thing is totally irresponsible. i see a flurry of Micro Pig Rescue centres opening up in the coming months...

foreign_correspondent

I met a friend for a drink the other day - she had seen an article on these and believed from reading it that they would always be little tiny pigs, maybe about the size of a jack russell.. she thought they were adorable (as they are) and said she would love one! When I told her they grow to the size of a labrador and need to wallow in mud she was less keen!

I think the way this is being promoted is totally irresponsible and misleading - any piglets are small and adorable - but this 'cute' factor becomes less as they grow...

And whilst they are small compared to many pigs bred commercially, they are still pretty big compared to most domestic pets!

Adult micropig:




(these are actually micropigs from the same breeder whose pigs are photographed with a teacup above, so be prepared, this is exactly what they will grow into!)

Micropigs are already turning up in the classifieds as unwanted pets.... "have a couple of pigs available to a loving home nice and friendly. still piglets. Available due to no fault of their own"

lowis

i wonder how the breeder would react if someone asked her, in the name of responsible breeding, to post pictures of the fully grown pig on the front page of her website, alongside the pics of the micro-pigs? this whole 'cute little pig' thing is already out of control

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

I met a friend for a drink the other day - she had seen an article on these and believed from reading it that they would always be little tiny pigs, maybe about the size of a jack russell.. she thought they were adorable (as they are) and said she would love one! When I told her they grow to the size of a labrador and need to wallow in mud she was less keen!

I think the way this is being promoted is totally irresponsible and misleading - any piglets are small and adorable - but this 'cute' factor becomes less as they grow...

And whilst they are small compared to many pigs bred commercially, they are still pretty big compared to most domestic pets!

Adult micropig:




(these are actually micropigs from the same breeder whose pigs are photographed with a teacup above, so be prepared, this is exactly what they will grow into!)

Micropigs are already turning up in the classifieds as unwanted pets.... "have a couple of pigs available to a loving home nice and friendly. still piglets. Available due to no fault of their own"