It all started with Pearl...

2015-2016

In June 2015 MPFL founder Melanie Moreau decided she wanted chickens and goats and other farm type critters, far away from the city. First the move, to 10 acres in Wills Point, Texas; and then ill-advised, if well-intended, pig acquisitions. In September, she found her first mini pigs Pearl and Piglet through a Facebook ad. A few days later the tiny packages were handed over in a Walmart shopping bag. To her inexperienced eye, the two-week old piglets were perfect! She religiously fed them milk and cornbread, as the breeder had disastrously directed - within weeks, Piglet died.

Melanie wiped her tears, bandaged her heart and started researching mini pig nutrition. She corrected the now obese Pearl’s diet - grown fat on grapes in exchange for love - and she started the new year with a new Buddy for Pearl. In truth, like many pig-rents, she considered briefly whether Buddy and Pearl should be more than friends and whether she should be more than just a pig parent. The question of whether to breed was soon rendered moot - Pearl was already pregnant when Melanie bought another pair of females, Chelsea and Minnie Pearl. In May Pearl delivered her babies, and suddenly Melanie Moreau was pig-rent to 10 - ten! - mini pigs.

The following day, Buddy was neutered, followed by each of the girls in turn. Thanks to DFW Pig Parents, Melanie’s learning took a notable leap forward. Nutrition? Check! Spay/neuter? Check! Time to rescue some piggies! In July, Melanie took in three obese mini pigs - and returned them to their previous owner the same day, after they attacked her beloved Pearl and Buddy. Time for a lesson in integration! Her first “official” rescue was Vlad, a 9-month old mini pig who joined the farm in September 2016 and is still with us today. This time, integration was a success.

The rescues and the learning continued through 2016, with new advisors Emily Mohring and Drs. Dan and Rachel Turner joining the rescue’s efforts. In October, 300 lb. Tilly arrived with lessons in piggy transport and weight loss. Walter followed in December, surrendered to Melanie after only 24 hours with his owners. Ignorant about pigs, they had become frustrated they couldn’t instantly potty train the 8-week old. Walter was subsequently diagnosed with diabetes insipidus but continues to thrive to this day at MPFL.

The final days of 2016 brought new heartbreak and new hope, as Melanie experienced the tragic loss of her father. Out of that darkest of times, she found hope and healing in her pig herd; that traumatic life event became the start of My Pig Filled Life. She grieved and found peace on the farm with her 13 mini pigs.