clear the shelters

Think Outside the Box When Adopting a Pet: Pigs Need Love, Too!

The shelter has several potbelly pigs that need new homes and more pigs are being surrendered every week

If you're considering a new pet for your family, the New Hampshire SPCA is asking that you think outside the box.

The shelter has several potbelly pigs that need new homes and more pigs are being surrendered every week.

Scarlett has been at the shelter for several months and desperately needs a new family.

Just like a dog, Scarlett loves to go for walks and responds to her name. She's a pig with all the very best attributes of man’s best friend.

“Scarlett loves lounging on her bed and getting tummy rubs and she’ll fall asleep,” said NHSPCA's farm animal manager Carrie Fyfe.

Scarlett was surrendered to the New Hampshire SPCA by a family who said she outgrew their expectations. Fyfe said families who get tiny piglets because they think a piggy is "cute," are then surprised when they grow into a 100-pound porker. 

“Not necessarily all pigs end up being teacup or miniature,” Fyfe said. “We’re seeing people run out of time, they don’t have the experience or the knowledge to take care of these guys.”

Fyfe notes that its a myth that pigs are dirty. In fact, they are actually very clean animals, and because they have very few functional sweat glands, they can hardly excrete body odor. 

And just like dogs, pigs know a little something about loyalty and love.

“They’re so rewarding because once they’re bonded to you, you are their person for life,” Fyfe said.

Scarlett is hoping to find a forever home in the weeks leading up to Clear the Shelters event on Aug. 18.

“We’ve so enjoyed having her, she’s been so much fun, but she’s ready,” Fyfe said.

The shelter has at least two more pot belly pigs that will also be looking for new families.

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