Help Rescued Pig Sanctuaries (in England and abroad)

five little pigs Alex Clark

Alex Clark

Pig sanctuaries (not the same as city farms) are run on shoestring budgets, by dedicated volunteers. Usually you can’t visit them, as the animals are privately cared for, to get over their traumas. But such sanctuaries are desperate for funds, so do give a little something out of your pay packet, if you can afford to do so:

Many farm sanctuaries also give homes to rescued pigs.

There are many pig sanctuaries worldwide, also needing help.

How to give anonymously to charities

Many people are put off donating to charities, because they like to give to lots of different ones, but get worried they will get bombarded with letters, phone calls or emails if they start giving to each one. And unless you have limitless funds, what to do?

You could donate anonymously via Charities Aid Foundation (just tick the box to donate anonymously or set up a personal or business giving account). Then you can give to your heart’s content, and nobody knows where the donations came from. It only works with registered UK charities, you can add one if need be.

You can raise money for Little Pigs at Home by choosing it as your chosen cause at easyfundraising. Then any time you buy from one of over 4000 businesses (from Argos to Amazon to Booking.com), a portion of each sale goes to the charity at no cost to you – loyalty points are not affected).

More ways to help pig sanctuaries 

  • The best way to help pigs is not to eat them (Moving Mountains sausages are good, as is La Vie vegan bacon, ham and salami (made in France and so popular, French farmers are trying to ban it!) Recycle packaging at supermarket bag bins.
  • Avoid ‘hidden pig ingredients’ like gelatine (try Wibble vegan jelly).
  • If you live near a pig or farm sanctuary, you could volunteer your time by mucking out and cleaning barns or helping to feed, water and groom the pigs. Or helping with practical skills like maintenance of barns, DIY, admin and book-keeping.
  • Ask each sanctuary what’s on its’ wishlist’. Sometimes items from vet surgeries or farm buildings may not be in use, but could help. Or you may have some safe enclosed land for rescued pigs to live and forage. Get in touch to ask!

Why pigs are brilliant!

Pigs are such wonderful mothers, they sing to their piglets) are also very clean animals. They will build a nest and walk up to a mile to go to the toilet. They are so brainy, they are up there with dolphins and chimpanzees.

They have strong bonds and will sleep nose-to-nose with other pigs, and use their sensitive snouts to forage for food (as eyes are on the sides of their heads, they have poor depth perception though can see a 310 panoramic view).

Pigs can’t sweat, which is why they roll in mud.  Only domestic pigs have curly tails! And in the wild, pigs can live to be up to 20 years old

Welfare issues for pot-bellied pigs

A few years back, the fashion to buy pot-bellied pigs as pets hit a block, when many found they were complicated and expensive to look after, and ‘mini-pigs’ soon grow into enormous pigs.

RSPCA has concerns, as even miniature breeds (like Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs) can grow up to 70kg. Some breeds even grow to 300kg, with a lifespan of up to 25 years.

Happily Ever Esther is the true story of a couple from a New York State, who adopted a pig, whichgrew to a whopping 600 lb, so they had to move in order to give her more room.

They began to take in other animals, and this turned into one of the USA’s top animal sanctuaries. With a message not to buy pets that may grow bigger than you have room for.

Esther died peacefully in her sleep, with one of her ‘dads’ beside her. Unaware that her story has inspired millions to treat farm animals better.

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