Ruby, The Sitting Piglet Of Cute
A month ago, we received a call about a piglet. The farm, located in the northern California hills, needed to do something with a runty, sickly piglet. Normally, piglets are killed if they aren’t growing rapidly. This is as true on “factory farms” as on this small, free-range, pasture-based farm. A visitor to the farm asked if she could take the pig home. The farm agreed. When we saw Ruby’s picture, of course we fell in love – who wouldn’t? Small, floppy-eared, she tugged at our heart strings. The fact she would have been butchered in six months, that her fate on a “humane” farm is no different from the fate of a pig on a “factory farm” pushed us to take her in.
The rescuer agreed to take care of Ruby for a month. We had just rescued two goats, two turkeys, and were going to be taking in four rabbits. Adding a piglet to the mix would have been very stressful for the three animal caregivers at the sanctuary.
This past Sunday, little Ruby-rubicon (as I like to call her) arrived. She is sugar and spice embodied. Sweet when she feels like it, sassy when she doesn’t. Today I took a copious quantity of photos. Here are a few for you to enjoy. Ruby will live out her life here at the sanctuary. I have a very strong feeling she will be a bratty pig.
Click on the photos to see them larger, if you so desire.
Stephanie Ernst
Marji
Kelly G.
Deb
Mary Martin
Well, she’s the cutest “bratty” piglet I’ve ever seen. Her expressive face conveys her incredible happiness. Looking at her smiles “restoreth my soul.” :-)
Thanks so much for this, Marji. She’s as cute as can be. Looking forward to hearing/reading her stories through you as she settles in and grows up. :)
What an expressive little piglet. It’s obvious that she is enjoying herself. Thanks for giving her the space and time to grow, learn and live out her life.
Must. Snuggle. Piglet.
The picture of her in the grass that’s almost as tall as she is priceless.
Ruby Rubicon! I love the name. I wish all of those people who say, “I’d go vegan but I can’t live without bacon” would look at her and read her story.
Thanks for reminding us that her fate at a “humane” farm would be the same as at a factory farm.
How adorable!
Thanks, everyone! Ruby is such a delight and a great distraction from the less enjoyable aspects of my job. I’ll definitely keep posting about her as she grows up. I can’t wait for her awkward, lanky teenage growth stage, it will be ridiculous. :)
Oh my god, just what I needed to see! Perfect, perfect perfect and thank you!!!!
:)
We had always felt there was no space at Avondale for pigs until a ‘runt’ down the road was about to be butchered. So we took her in, named her Ruby, and the same day took in one of the piglets from the filming of Charlotte’s Web, Lucy. (And another 2 CW piglets until they were old enough to go to their new home.) Ruby and Lucy are now a huge (pun intended) part of what makes Avondale so gentle. You’ve just substantially enriched your life!
Harry, where’s Avondale?
Your story about Charlotte’s Web filming and Lucy reminds me of how Edgar’s Mission came to be in Australia, when Pam Ahern rescued a pig named Edgar after the filming of “Babe.”
Hi Olivia
Avondale is our 42 acres of Paradise in Tasmania, Australia. The last Charlotte’s Web was filmed in Victoria and 41 piglets were rescued from what would have been a life filled with time in sow stalls. (Yes, all the Wilburs were girls!). If you follow the link on my name it will take you to the site and there are some great pics in “In Pictures” – in particular have a look at 4 young piglets enjoying an unusual dump of snow! If I’m remembering correctly, Pam also took at least one of the CW piggies.
Ah, Harry, I *finally* found you by Googling the words Avondale, 42 acres, Tasmania and Australia. The 42 acres did the trick! What a lovely site (the photos and description of your rescue and the website itself) and lovely name http://www.agentleplace.com. I’m glad you haven’t written many posts in your new blog yet; their small number allowed me to read most of them, and they’re all so sweet. I was especially touched by your “just a duck” Arthur (bless him) and by your tale of Lily, the donkey who finally overcame her fear of rasps, thanks to months of gentle treatment during trim time. What a relief for her AND you!
You’re right, it was from CW that Pam’s Edgar came, not Babe.
Thanks for sharing your “Paradise” with us. You’ve helped bring new life not only to its residents, but also to virtual visitors like me.