A Squishy Pig

"Penny is a squishy pig" and as soon as the words come out of my mouth, visitors ask me "what do you mean"?

Penny arrived in a horse trailer with no straw or protection inside. Animals have no idea when your traveling if and when your going to stop. Or go into an incline , a decline in the road, or turn left or right. Think about it , one very obese short legged pot bellied pig in a horse trailer traveling for about an hour. How many times did she loose her footing and crash into the walls? If she had of laid down or went down from being unable to balance inside she would of rolled back and forth smashing into the metal walls of her confine, over and over again.

She has gone threw humans like we go threw new cars. So many humans discarded her over and over again. They fed her too much and probably everything nutritionally incorrect for her species. Poor little Penny as she emerges from her fat suit with still many serious medical problems.

Penny's eye sight is poor due to the heavy fat fold over her forehead and pushing down on her eyes. A slow weight loss i pray will allow her body to re- adjust because for many pigs , surgery is the only way to remove the fold once the weight comes off. Cosmetic surgery for a pig is done in the states by rescuers some of the time. She allows me to pull back the fat from her eyes so we can see each other and the world she lives in here.

Penny is regaining the use of muscles once weighted down by that fat. Her ears are no longer simply ornamental , she is regaining the ability to show me things now. Her ears are responding to her personality and delights as you can see when she is enjoying her soup. And as the weight comes off of her I hope more of her hearing returns that is also compromised due to the fat.

Penny is not out in a paddock in a straw filled house like the others. Eating of straw and hay has caused more problems with her constipation so that form of fiber is restricted somewhat. Her potty habits are of a fat pig who had no reason, too much pain and it took too much effort to get up. A pig who goes potty in her bed , on her carpet runners or in her water dish. Never the less she is loved and must be watched ,so Penny has her own big house for the special needs girl she is. A pig who potties where they sleep or where they eat goes against the norm , something must be the matter and for now there is.

I have had to help Penny in more ways then one over the last few months and so have two of my vets. Even Carol (SAINTS) left me a sure fire constipation relief package and i have a cupboard filled for Penny's needs. Little Penny has suffered many indignities but forgives me completely.

And no matter what time of day as i attend to her needs i can pull back a blanket and snuggle up beside her and kiss her face. And i can do that over and over again. I rub her face and fuss on her and sometimes in shear pleasure she will let out these soft rhythmic whines of contentment , and that is music to my ears. I can warm up her ears with my breath and lay right down with her and put my arm around her and snuggle her while i tuck her in. I tell her I love her and when I kiss her i tell her it is what we do when we love you so much. We kiss you and kiss you and she responds with another form of communicating "comfort" with her ah ha ah's . Yes the message comes in three's and if you were too clear your throat softly with your mouth closed that is the sound they make. Penny as do all of the pigs can answer you if you ask. And if i ask Penny is she is cozy she will answer "ah ah ah"...


She is my squishy pig.

High Speed Penny the Pot Bellied Pig

She is a super scooper

High Speed Penny the Pot Bellied Pig loves Soup

Such a Lady

Tomato Soup and Mouse

Kind of dark,this was taken in my kitchen a few minutes ago...

Good Good Freinds

Jean was here Thursday and we had a great visit! We had a quick bite and then off we went bargain hunting at a few thrift stores in Maple Ridge. We both found things that we needed for our new homes.

Then we came back here and Jean treated all the pigs with a huge bag of hazel nuts and she must of taken a bazillion pictures! Can't wait to see them on her blog when she gets home and settled from being away. Then we fed them all dinner and Jean took some more pictures lol

After we had everybody else fed we drove down to the Shake and Shingle Pub not too far from here and Jean treated me to a really nice dinner. Good time and much needed break from the routine here .

Saturday was busy today with my sister helping and Brent back again. Today we tackled the basement starting with my millions of tins, jars , coffee cans of nuts ,bolts,nails washers you name it . And started to try and separate them all. Still boxes of this and that to unpack and we boxed up maybe 2 dozen tins of paint left behind for recycling.

Then Gloria and Stan came to visit from "For Pets Sake" and brought some boxes of good garage sale items AND a really nice donation!!! There organization holds fundraisers and pub nights to help folks like us. Cool eh!!!

To wrap the night up Lisa arrived our Bunny Loving girl and we rounded up six bunnies from a neighbor. We got them into some nice little cages i had here , lined them with towels and they are all snuggy warm and on there way to there new homes. Nice way to wrap up a day and Lisa helped me feed the pigs too.

Lisa has a little car and here is a picture of her co-pilot and the kids we got out before they were turned into dinners.

Wilbur: One Precious Pig Spared the Slaughterhouse

Sundays

I have always liked Sundays as technically it is my only day off. That of course when i am working full time and by no means did i ever stop working but there was peace and it was my day. After a work week and then waking to Saturday mornings filled with volunteers and the grueling work ahead of us. But Sunday mornings was my time and nothing would dictate how i did what, unless i had a booked visitation. Then every thing worked around that but the early mornings were mine.

I spent some time on the grass with Ricki and Whisper who were happy to get my attention while there family raced all over the acreage. Cooing the way pigs do with there bristles raised, i loved on them for a long time as i laid down on the damp grass.

And I watched Georges reaction when he saw me coming. A happy spin and a trot around the tree to greet me.

When I went out side to feed dinner tonight which was 30 minutes from when I was last out there Dior gave me a great horse hello. She knickers all the time but this was a song! I loved that!!! And today watching the two knuckle heads drinking from the pond is a picture in my mind I will never forget.

I watched Scout bucking in playfulness as he raced towards his brother. Hearing the hello between mother and son when reunited after searching for roots in different areas of the property. A loud and deep oh oh oh.

Buddy playfully grabbing my hand as he was so excited to have his collar on, and me with leash in hand. I could go on and on. Every body is happier here , every one of them. And these large pens are so much healthier for them as they leap from there nests to race to the gates for feeding times and freedom.

Tonight Mouse left her patio door nest and was up here with me where my office is set up. I caught her looking at a empty space between two pieces of furniture and it made me get up. I went and got two blankets from upstairs and spread them out beside me. She has made a new nest not more then four feet away from me here. I took this picture of Mouse laying in the sun yesterday. I sent it to Ken our vet with a note from Mouse thanking him for today, yesterday and tomorrow.

Tortilla gave me a scare early today as sometimes i hear his cries from his house at feed times and then i know he needs me to help him to his feet. He is an old guy about 16 -17 years old now. Today was different his front legs were pulled tight towards his tummy and i thought oh dear is today the day. I asked him if he was okay and his eyes were closed and he cried and cried. I reached over him and gave him a lift and he got up to his feet and was fine. It was like he had forgotten how to get up and that is what i asked him. "Did you forget how to get up Tory?".

But tonight I realize he must of been asleep and having a bad dream. Silly me, poor Tortilla. He still gets up about three times a day getting his exercise and fresh air. Yet he has not venture out to his horses yet. I started him on some remedies two days ago so we will see if that gives him some of his strength back. I check on him every night , watch him get into his house okay and put a flash light on him every night before i go to tuck in Penny.

I got a lot done today but it was in peace and with out threats or worries.

Cleaned four paddocks and the barn and pasture . Cut down some branches and cut off the lock left on the gate from the previous owner. That thing was bothering me and was only confusing visitors. Calling to me from the gates ..BUT IT'S LOCKED!! lol

I also planted a tree that had been run over by the fencing crew and saved by me replanting it quickly in some soft soil by the house. I look out at Dylan's yard and it is pretty boring compared to what he used to have. I may have to change that but while he was sleeping away i planted that tree in his yard. He got up to see what was going on just after i gave it some water. I hung on the fence rails and watched him find it and his tail started to wag. I told him "i did it for you!" "It is your tree and it will always be known as Dylan's Tree. Gads if i change his yard , i 'll have to move the tree again.. lol.



Well off i go to check on the kids and hit the couch.

Freedom Penny

WOW . Erin came to help, wow a volunteer!! And she arrived with apples and carrots too. I should mention Lee came to visit yesterday with 6 cases of apples and another leaf bag of bread for the pigs. And a really nice pineapple loaf for me , YUM! Well of course my sister was here and Mom came over too . Brent was back as well so we got lots of stuff done.

Cleaned up some of the mess out front behind the fence which i think was left overs from the tree house that used to be here. We also disturbed a little fat gray mouse so we were quick to leave him some of his wood for mouse protection. All the cement blocks scattered about the property were gathered to one pile . They are left overs used to raise sheds and enable footing for the crane truck when it got stuck. The big hole created by big tires got filled too!

Another heavy load to the dump but metal and rotten wood can be recycled. Brent came and helped me unload after all of us filled the truck up. So much waste in the wood pile at the dump. Old wood barn windows i would of loved to grab , but your not allowed to scavenge hunt there anymore.

Another mild day and pigs were enjoying there freedom. I let big Roscoe out first, he loves to be anywhere we are. He ventures out and then returns to us to catch up on what we are doing. He gets a rub and a scratch, and off he goes again.

The horses barn got done and the pasture was picked clean and all the waters got done. I got some of the pen work done but by 2 we were all done physically.

Big day for Penny!!! I was calling the Super Wee's in for dinner and looked in shock, Penny was coming too! She has never been out this far and has never been that far anywhere, even at the old place.

I start feeding at 3:30 and she was still cruising around when i came in here at 5:30. I was out a lot longer too, as it was such a pleasure to watch her explore the pasture.

With the help of homeopathic remedies and human brand Recovery. The home made soup and scattering her food every night the weight is coming off even more and her limp is totally gone. The added exercise has really helped her and sweet Penny has awakened from her fat depression and painful life.

I added a picture of her from when she arrived

Yes that is her way out there!!

Out of the Darkness

Another beautiful day and i took lots of pictures as you can see and some movies so you can see the set up for the pigs.

I went into town today and loaded up with hay again and filled the inside of my truck with apples , carrots , peanuts and wood burning pellets for the stove. I also splurged and bought a little shop vac so i can clean out the pellet stove better. And you all know i set my little one on fire by doing that and using the house one is going to wreck it. I need a shop vac anyhow and man they work great. Far better then any of these house hold ones they sell you. Yes, bigger and bulkier but power!! Oh oh oh oh oh ohhhhhhhh power.

As i looked at the pictures I took today i realized something. How i was frantically searching with Sue my real estate agent for a place for both the horses and the pigs . How it had to have shelter for the horses and pasture. It have to have enough land to build bigger and better piggy paddocks. How it couldn't be too far from my Mom. What if i got snowed in and lived out in the boonies, how would i get feed , hay and smokes LOL .

Anyhow what i am trying to say is who would of thought that all of a sudden i am now realizing that by fluke the house is perfect for me too.

When every one is fed i sit outside on the bench and make sure Tortilla makes it back into his house okay. He is an old guy and his rear legs are not as strong as he used to be. While i was looking at him he was looking at me. Your so cute Tory and he "oofed" in agreement.

It was then for the first time in my life did I look up at a crescent moon and saw a beaming smile in the sky.

If They are Happy, I'm Happy.

Well i got all the rest of the pigs houses filled with straw and raked the Super Wee's paddock and after doing the horses and two wheel barrows to start with i was done. It took five trips to wheel barrow over 5 bales of straw and i took two out filled with piggy pearls and pine needles out of the Super Wee's. The rest of the paddocks will have to wait until tomorrow.

All the pigs who weren't out free disappeared into there houses to fix the straw how they like it and search for delicious oats. And thank goodness because ohhhh poor poor Comet. His high pitched WEE'S translated too "let me out,I want out oh pleeeaseeeeeee" . Try as i might to explain that doesn't change anything. That he was out yesterday and others were watching him. Its only fair i am telling him and he stops and thinks about that for a few minutes and then he can't help himself and starts all over again.

It was 12: 30 so i started to call the Super Wee's ( JEANNNNNNNNNNNNN) and every body came except Tom. He had me walking all over the place thinking he was confused and was trying to find his way back. NOT.. he totally ignored me and even though i put a dish of crunch under his nose he had his own agenda.

I had to go into town so I left Buddy out to protect the little brat.

I got the truck loaded for the dump and let me tell you when i got there i could barley pull the card board out of my truck. I get quite a bit of cardboard here as get cases of apples and go threw about 4-6 cases a week . But i was out of strength and it feels so weird to be that weak lol

I got home about 3:30 and there was Tom pacing his fence line. "How do i get in???". "I want in nowwwwwwwwww". With a smirk on my face i walked out there before i unloaded my truck and thought to myself next time he will a good listener.

I almost forget there was reason for celebration on Saturday!! And i called Mom and my sister out so they could see!! Gads Danny has been with me for years and came in so fat his eye sight was permanently damaged. Back at the old place the Butter Cup kids had a huge paddock and that was good because only one of them ever wanted to go out. Danny, Casandra and Tuskers are The Butter Cup Kids and if you look back to when i first started this Blog you can read all about them.

http://heartsonnoses.blogspot.com/2008/10/is-my-pig-too-fat.html

When i talked to this herd about us moving one day i promised them no gravel driveway. There gate exited right onto the driveway and they had to cross it to get to the pasture. Tuskers and Danny both hated the rocks and it took cake to get Danny out at all. I would tell him "there are no holes" and "follow the fence line out". He couldn't see well and i needed too assure him.

Thankfully it was a promise i could keep, there is no gravel on this driveway and it is paved. So the gates were left open for them on Saturday just after noon and about 2:30 i was making sure they all had gone back in as i needed to start all there dinners soon. Cpt Norm was in and so was Cassandra and Tuskers , they were milling around in there paddock . Where is Danny???? I looked in there house twice, around back of it too as they have a really large L-shaped pen.

Danny was all the way across the pasture just trucking home and wagging his tail like a windshield wiper. Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah Danny, look at you go!!
I found a picture of him taken in the back yard at the old place as that was a big deal for him too.

The pigs are happier here , Danny says so.