Miracles Come in Pig Sizes: a Family's Healing at Rooterville

Miracle & Sampson, Rooterville, A Sanctuary, Melrose, Florida

Yoga Animalia: Porcine - Miracle & Sampson

Rooterville, A Sanctuary, Melrose, Florida

Putnam County Animal Control discovered a property where a family of four pigs had been abandoned. They were starved, bones protruding under skin, near the brink of death. Emaciated, the father, mother, and two sons arrived at Rooterville and began their healing process. The mother became known as Miracle, for her recovery was miraculous, yet challenging. Her spay surgery resulted in a hernia and an infection that forced her back to the vet hospital she had been rushed to upon first arrival. After stall rest and yet more recovery, she finally got to become part of the sounder with her family, able to create nests for her sons Sampson and Logain, and finally enjoy the good life.

This image of Miracle and her son Sampson is one that begs a bit more story. Their tale could have ended so tragically, and even after their rescue, the journey of recovery was lengthy, especially for Miracle. The images that follow show the condition in which she and her family were discovered.

Miracle at University of Florida, Gainesville animal hospital right after rescue. Photo courtesy Rooterville Facebook.

Sampson, Logain, and Daddy overjoyed to have grass to eat after their rescue and arrival at Rooterville. Photo courtesy Rooterville Facebook.

Original Facebook album with more photos via Rooterville can be seen here. When I first saw these images, I could barely believe she was the same pig in the photo. My brain had moments of difficulty relating the healthy, happy, and rather boisterous lady with the barely functioning one in the rescue photo.

Later when I originally captured the first image, I had yet to know the full details, that the young pig next to her was in fact her son. It made finding this image as I perused my captures all the more special, because it spoke to me of a long and challenging healing process. Her glance at my camera seems satisfied and happy as she rests next to her sleeping son. That I got to witness and record this simple moment of mother and son closeness that could just as easily never happened is truly magical for me.

Miracle's story is one of mercy and hope, a story of a family's second chance.

Miracle on one of my first days at the sanctuary, after months of healing and stall rest, anxious to spread her porcine wings.

March Sanctuary Spotlight: Rooterville

In mid-February I traveled to a rural part of north-central Florida, about an hour south of Jacksonville and 50 minutes east of Gainesville. After my Apple GPS told me several wrong ways, nonexistent roads to take, and other tomfoolery, I arrived on the outskirts of Melrose at Rooterville's doorstep, marked by a marquee like you might see outside a church or a theater.

Rooterville Sign lit up for the night

It marked the second sanctuary of the new year I would visit, and I was soon to learn that the source of its name were the potbellied pigs who originally inspired the creation of the sanctuary. Rooterville had grown from its early days as a potbelly rescue into a more fully-fledged farm animal sanctuary. Here I met a host of porcine characters, lounging, rooting, and exploring almost everywhere I looked.

Pigs & Clouds, Rooterville, A Sanctuary, Melrose, Florida

Doodle & I, Rooterville, A Sanctuary, Melrose, Florida

Leo & I, Rooterville, A Sanctuary, Melrose, Florida

I also met a few equine and caprine friends, including (pictured) Doodle and Leo, both whom insisted on selfies with me, and many photos of themselves besides. I must say, both boys have dashing hairdos - I don't think I've quite seen the like at other sanctuaries!

Paul & Pancake, Rooterville, A Sanctuary, Melrose, Florida

While later perusing Rooterville's website, I noticed that they had several open staffing positions available. I did not intend to leave Florida until April, so I reached out to Elaine, the founder of Rooterville, and asked if she would be interested in me working at the sanctuary for the month of March. It fit for both of us, especially given my previous caregiving and tour guide experience, both roles for which she is looking, and thus I have been helping out the last week and a half. Katie Kowhugger is getting acquainted with several of the most curious porcine residents, and it has been a delight to get to know the residents even better myself. More photos to come throughout the month!

Miracle in her recovery suite after her spay, anxious to join the larger population, and for more treats, Rooterville, A Sanctuary, Melrose, Florida

Rudy helps me out with my email, Rooterville, A Sanctuary, Melrose, Florida

Good Night Peepers & Chica, Rooterville, A Sanctuary, Melrose, Florida

Laverne & Shirley: No Sitcom Beginning, But Happy Days Going Forward

Laverne, Ching Farm Rescue & Sanctuary, Herriman, Utah

I am ever fascinated by the eyes of the farm friends I meet. If you have yet to gaze into the eyes of a pig, it is an experience I insist you add to your bucket list. In the vein of those intense bonding exercises done in self-help-style seminars where you share the gaze of a single individual for a long period, looking into the eyes of a peaceful pig will similarly impact you. Notice I specified a peaceful pig, don't be trying to lock gazes with a pig while he or she is trying to eat or one who isn't particularly fond of human types! If you've already had this experience, I would love to know the name of the porcine friend whom you met and what sanctuary they live at - tell me in the comments!

Yoga Animalia: Porcine - Laverne & Shirley

Laverne and Shirley were found in a box, taped up and without any air holes, on the side of a Utah freeway in December. The piglets were about 4 days old, and near death when a woman saw the box move, stopped, and brought them home.  Living in a non-agricultural neighborhood, she could not keep them, so brought them to Ching Farm Rescue and Sanctuary.  There they were carefully nursed back to health, the parasites and grime removed, allowing them to flourish and be the joyous and gregarious pigs they should be.

Shirley, Ching Farm Rescue & Sanctuary, Herriman, Utah

Shirley, Ching Farm Rescue & Sanctuary, Herriman, Utah

Experiments in Compassion: Harry Bob and His Tufted Ears

Harry Bob, Ching Farm Rescue & Sanctuary, Herriman, Utah

Yoga Animalia: Porcine - Harry Bob

Ching Farm Rescue & Sanctuary, Herriman, Utah

Ear tufts maketh the pig. Meeting Harry Bob and the other Bobs who call Ching home on my first visit introduced me to a group of distinct new pig friends of which I had previously been unaware: pigs used as laboratory subjects. Harry Bob and his cohorts had been bred for experiments; their smaller size making them easier to deal with compared to a full grown farm pig. Originally imported to zoos in the 1960's as a novelty, miniature pig breeds like the Yucatan Black to which Harry Bob belongs were also then taken into research laboratories due to the similarity between pig and human DNA. Experiments ranged from toxicology studies to the effects of aging to outright organ harvesting for transplant, but these studies did not highlight the amazing intellectual capacity of porcine kind. Luckily for this troop, Ching was able to secure their release to the sanctuary. Whenever I visit it is a joy to watch them roam the grounds, sun bathe, and create mud holes in inappropriate places, bedecking themselves in mud. Harry Bob and his other Bob cohorts inspect the grounds for treats and stick their snouts in everyone’s business, keeping tabs on the sanctuary happenings. When I visit it makes me gleeful to pick out Harry Bob's wild ear tufts amongst the group.

Harry Bob, Ching Farm Rescue & Sanctuary, Herriman, Utah