I am the director of Goat Mountain Animal Sanctuary in Leicester, and some of the calls we get regarding pigs are from people who believed, when they purchased their potbellied pig, that it wouldn’t grow large — that it was some new, mini-type that would only grow to be 30 pounds. When the pig grows to the average size 80 to 125 pounds — and sometimes up to 150 pounds or more — they either can’t handle it, or their landlords tell them to get rid of it.
There is no such thing as a mini-potbellied pig! I was told by the director at a Ross Mill Farms pig sanctuary in Pennsylvania, which is home to 150 potbellied pigs, that perhaps an inbred runt could grow to be only 50 or so pounds, but that instance would be very rare. We have some here at Goat Mountain that are nearing 200 pounds.
It is my opinion that most people shouldn’t ever buy a potbellied pig anyway, since so many are available for rescue. So if you are in a position to own a potbellied pig —meaning you own your house or property, you have at least an acre, or a few acres, you know that they will be large and you have the proper fencing — please, of course, rescue one. Otherwise, don’t buy a potbellied pig believing that it might be a mini one, because they don’t exist.
Here is a website dedicated to educating people about this issue: teacuppig.info.
— Rob Levy
Leicester
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.