Gracie has arrived

Well, we've done it. We now have twelve pigs....

Gracie was surrendered to the OSPCA yesterday, and delivered here directly by one of the investigators. She is a six year-old pot-bellied pig who was once a house pig, but was then booted outside to a filthy, junk-filled peb. SHhe was born in 2010.

She has been subsisting on Ol' Roy dog food, Triscuit crackers, and reconstituted pea-soup mix. We are hoping that she won't suffer long-term health effects from this completely inadequate diet. Fortunately, she polished off her first bowl pot-bellied pig food. We have it custom-mixed at our local organic feed mill. 

Gracie is extremely overweight, which can lead to blindness in pot-bellied pigs, and is also very hard on their joints. We hope to get her slimmed down soon. Her weight is estimated at 275 - 300 lbs and to move her from the OSPCA truck to her pen (in a crate), we used the tractor with a pallet and forks.

Gracie is a prime example of how animals can suffer when people obtain pet pigs without doing thorough research into their needs. Our goal is for Gracie to integrate into our herd and live a happy piggy life here, with appropriate food, four acres of pasture, and lots of rooting around and rolling in mud baths.

Before Luc moved Gracie with the tractor, we secured her cage door with ratchet straps. She was very good for the ride! Luc is an excellent, careful driver and moved her to the new pen ever-so-gently.

After we dropped off Gracie, little Luc (named after our friend Luc in the driver's seat!) and Rosie hopped on the ballast-box to ask for a ride.

Gracie has pink front legs! She is a quiet, gentle soul. Monty seems quite taken with her. They went nose-to-nose and I think he might have been telling Gracie that her worries are over now.

Rudy the herd boss was there too, posturing and smacking his lips. Gracie will be kept in the pen for a week or two while she gets to know everyone through the fencing. I doubt she has seen another pig since she was born.

Rudy is such an ass.

This pic doesn't do justice to how big she is! I will have the vet take a look at her soon. She has a small, old eye injury that I haven't gotten a good look at yet. I will get that checked out and also deworm her.

Monty seemed pleased with the new addition!

Send good thoughts for Gracie. Pigs are smart and sensitive, and sometimes it take a while for them to adjust to a new home. Henry had the worst time of all the pigs; I think it took three or four months before he stopped being depressed!

Welcome, Gracie. Thank you, Luc and Debbie for your help in getting Gracie settled in.