We believe that mini pigs deserve the highest standard of care
Mini-pigs are special. Intelligent, sensitive and emotional. Highly social. And vulnerable. For these reasons alone they merit a place in our hearts. But it goes deeper. It gets to who we are as human beings. We humans created the mini pig. And in so doing, we humans acquired a special responsibility for their well-being. For their fate.
At My Pig Filled Life, we meet this responsibility by giving each of our rescues their best life. This is not merely a question of whether they deserve to be treated with respect and kindness by humans, to live a life free of abuse or neglect, suffering and exploitation, fear and distress. We recognize pigs as sentient beings, capable of forming lasting and loving bonds with one another, with humans and with other animals. It can be fairly stated that they share our understanding of “human” concepts such as “home” and “family”. It’s our dream to realize these fulfilling concepts in the life of every one of our pigs.
I’m Melanie Moreau, founder of My Pig Filled Life. In the five years since MPFL was officially founded, these beliefs and commitments have motivated my waking hours. I’m proud to say that we have delivered the highest standard of care for our rescues since our inception. This standard encompasses care from a specialized veterinarian, including prompt diagnosis and treatment of injury and disease; access to fresh water and a healthful diet designed to meet their specific needs; an environment that offers shelter and places of rest for young and old, fit and infirm; regular human companionship; and space to root, forage and socialize, in the company of their own kind. I believe so strongly in these principles, and have such deep respect for the individuality of each mini pig at our rescue, that I have sacrificed my home for the last six years to serve as a makeshift barn for the weak and feeble, the ill and infirm, the injured and impaired. And I know each of my 278 mini pigs by name.
Nearly all mini pigs are abandoned
We know that a shocking 90 percent of pet mini pigs will be abandoned before their second birthday. Absent rescue, these pigs face the harshest of prospects. Rehoming is rare. For example, less than 10 percent of our rescues are rehomed. Breeders compound the issue, adding to the soaring population of abandoned pigs, most of whom face a death sentence--hit by cars, killed by dogs or other predators, used as bait for hunting dogs, or simply left to die of starvation or exposure. And let’s be clear: mini pigs “turned loose” by owners die, soon, one way or another. They are not capable of surviving in feral conditions. And so we know, with certainty, the need for rescue for these intelligent, sensitive animals will, sadly, grow.
Looking forward to the future, our #1 need is land
Like all rescues, MPFL depends on the continuing support of its benefactors for the resources that sustain our operation. And these resources start with land. It is the foundation of habitat that affords mini pigs opportunity to engage in normal, healthy behavior such as rooting and grazing.
Already, we see our 20 acre parcel--once green and lush--grows sparse. We know that in less than two years, absent our action, this acreage will be cleared of all grazeable material, biodiversity and potential for productivity. For pigs are the workhorses of grazing animals, and their consumption of vegetation will exceed the ability of plant life to recover adequately. This impacts the productive capacity of the land as water and wind erosion increase, and soil compaction and water runoff further reduce plant growth. Bare pasture becomes ripe for the growth of undesirable weeds, some of them toxic to mini pigs, such as the buttercup species that already invades our acreage. Without time to recover and receive new growth and reseeding, the soil structure eventually is destroyed. This, in turn, imperils the quality of life we are committed to providing our rescues.
We have a once in a lifetime opportunity
At this pivotal moment, My Pig Filled Life has been offered the chance to buy not just any land, but the 47 acres contiguous to our rescue. This land would enable us to rotate pasture to both renew the forage and reduce the microorganism load that can build over time, compromising the health of our pigs.
But we must move quickly. To seize this opportunity, we must raise funds and complete our purchase within thirty days. And we are unlikely to see an opportunity like this again. Rural land prices are rising rapidly in Texas, even as available land is increasingly scarce nationwide. This is driven in large part by the pandemic and resulting societal changes, as work-from-home becomes a way of life and families look to relocate away from cities and suburbs to more rural areas.
We Dare to Dream of the future our rescues deserve. Dream With Us.
Do you believe, as we do, that mini pigs are worth saving? That when you save a life, you're responsible for that life? And that we must give to our rescued mini pigs their best lives?
You can help make our dream a reality with your donation. Dare to Dream with us today, at My Pig Filled Life and our ~278 rescue pigs.