'Micro-pigs' become a macro problem

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Throughout the country, people are buying micro-pigs, mini-pigs and pot-bellied pigs as trendy pets. The problem is that many of these animals are actually immature pigs which grow up to be anything but micro.

Lucie Cerny hosts 50 pigs at her Rescue and Sanctuary for Threatened Animals (RASTA) in De Winton, Alta., and has 24 more in foster homes. "Less than five per cent stay with their original owners," Cerny told Global News. "Before they're even a year of age, they're given up." She says mature pot-bellied pigs can weigh 120 to 250 pounds.

Kristin Domoslai, a RASTA volunteer, told CTV News that owners are dumping them on the street or in a rural area, or sending them to auction for slaughter.

Steve Jenkins and Derek Walter chose to keep their "micro-pig," Esther, who now weighs 400 pounds and may still be growing. They told the Toronto Star: "We figure it was a scheme where (an unscrupulous breeder) would take runts, fix the tails, (and) tell people they're mini-pigs."

Jenkins and Walter, whose story has received extensive media attention, plan to eventually move from Georgetown, Ont., and open a pig rescue. BP