Micro pigs

[Smokey Toes]

video: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6267381/Micro-pigs-with-a-hefty-price-tag.html

The pets, which grow to be just 14in tall, have become so popular that they are now almost impossible to get hold of in Britain. They have even been snapped up by celebrities, including Harry Potter actor Rupert Grint, who plays Ron Weasley.

"Demand for micro pigs is soaring and we are inundated with enquiries every day," said Jane Croft, 42, who breeds them. "It's amazing how popular they have suddenly become and just how many people want pigs as pets."

Micro pigs are much smaller than a standard farm pig and weigh 9oz, about the size of a tea cup when they are born. At two years old they are fully grown and weigh in around 40-65 lb and are around knee height at 12-16in tall. They can live for up to 18 years, but make popular pets as they are low maintenance, quiet and surprisingly clean.

[Kellye]

Adorable. :smitten:

[holnrew]

Very cute. I want pet pigs, but I'm not sure I like this, it's kind of like designer pets.

[Treehugger267]

Someone was trying to sell their tiny pet pig on Craigs List last year. He was adorable and I begged and begged my husband to let me go pick him up. We both researched the care of them them and I don't think we were a suitable home for him after all. But, oh my goodness, are they adorable and just stole my heart immediately.

[IrieMama]

"They are also highly intelligent and are the fourth most intelligent species after man, monkey and dolphin."

Yet we have no problem eating the slightly larger ones with the same intelligence.

[Beachbnny]

"They are also highly intelligent and are the fourth most intelligent species after man, monkey and dolphin."

Yet we have no problem eating the slightly larger ones with the same intelligence.

Maybe this will help people make that connection.

I doubt it though. What's with all the "designer pets" these days? When I was a kid all I ever wanted was a shelter dog that needed me. That's all I ever got too and they've all been the best friends I've ever had.

[Poppy]

(Smokey Toes - I had to shorten the amount you copied. We're limited to 2-3 paragraphs.)

Anyway - they are absolutely adorable, but the link also emphasized how much money can be made breeding these guys. :( And, they do grow to 45 pounds, which is a lot larger than what they look like as piglets.

[Kellye]

These little guys are so cute, but I'd never have a pig as a pet. I can't stand the noises they make.

I also don't really like the whole designer pet aspect, either. But they ARE adorable.

[Smokey Toes]

(Smokey Toes - I had to shorten the amount you copied. We're limited to 2-3 paragraphs.)

Anyway - they are absolutely adorable, but the link also emphasized how much money can be made breeding these guys. :( And, they do grow to 45 pounds, which is a lot larger than what they look like as piglets.

Sorry about that. Won't happen again :)


I also prefer the shelter dog, but like any pet some of these guys will find their way to the shelter eventually :(

[IrieMama]

When we buy our house we plan on buying a lot of acreage. I would love to start a little sanctuary for cows and pigs.

[yally]

(Smokey Toes - I had to shorten the amount you copied. We're limited to 2-3 paragraphs.)

Anyway - they are absolutely adorable, but the link also emphasized how much money can be made breeding these guys. :( And, they do grow to 45 pounds, which is a lot larger than what they look like as piglets.

Yeah, that's what I thought, the lady in the video implies they're almost fully grown yet there's a huge mummy pig wandering around too. I hate to think people will buy one thinking that's as big as it will get.

So cute though.


They are also highly intelligent and are the fourth most intelligent species after man, monkey and dolphin.

...monkey?

[rabid_child]

I'm a little confused about the size of these things. They weight 9 oz at birth, get to be 12-14 inches tall --- but weigh 45-60 lbs?! Just seems heavy for that height...

Anyway... my first reaction was one of disgust... but then I realized... if people are buying these things as pets... and they don't like to eat their pets... then maybe they'll start making the connection between animals and food and stop eating the damn animals!!

[IrieMama]

Yeah lets hope.

Let's hope people are smart enough to make that correlation. I could totally see people having a pig as a pet and still having bacon in the morning.

[katiepillars]

I'm still holding out for pygmy elephants.

[FreestylePup]

THEY ARE SO FLIPPIN CUTE!

Sorry, I know it's not good how people sell animals like that but I have to say they are some of the cutest little babies ever. I love pigs

[yally]

i'm still holding out for pygmy elephants.

oh my god yes please.

[SilverSweet]

I'm still holding out for pygmy elephants.

Does that mean there's hope for pygmy tigers?!

*Sees other members staring*

What?? I love tigers. ^_^

Eh, Probably wouldn't want one unless it acted like a baby all
the time. Otherwise it'd probably kill me or I'd be missing a limb or something.

Anyway, micro pigs sound cute. I wish we had room for a lamb or a little pig or something, but we don't. (Plus we already have a lot of pets anyway.)
Until I have my own farm (I wish!), I have to be content with plushies.

[mlp]

Cute, but with so many homeless domesticated animals being killed every year, I see no justification for creating a new one.

I hope the same thing doesn't happen with them that happened with potbelly pigs - everyone wanted one, and then the fad passed, and the inevitable result - dead pigs.

[Mrs. Skittles]

When we buy our house we plan on buying a lot of acreage. I would love to start a little sanctuary for cows and pigs.

If you do you should adopt through the Farm Animal Sanctuary. :)

http://farmsanctuary.org/

[iishers]

Does that mean there's hope for pygmy tigers?!

*Sees other members staring*

What?? I love tigers. ^_^

Eh, Probably wouldn't want one unless it acted like a baby all
the time. Otherwise it'd probably kill me or I'd be missing a limb or something.

Anyway, micro pigs sound cute. I wish we had room for a lamb or a little pig or something, but we don't. (Plus we already have a lot of pets anyway.)
Until I have my own farm (I wish!), I have to be content with plushies.

TOYGERS!

http://www.toygers.org/

They're just cats bred to look like tigers though
But that's probably a lot safer

[SlobberChops]

Cute, but with so many homeless domesticated animals being killed every year, I see no justification for creating a new one.

I hope the same thing doesn't happen with them that happened with potbelly pigs - everyone wanted one, and then the fad passed, and the inevitable result - dead pigs.

:yes: I agree with you.

[La Fée Verte]

I adore pigs, they are the best- I'm not quite sure about the breeding of micro-pigs though, mainly because I've just read that one of the little guys is trotting off to an uncertain fate chez Paris Hilton- eek! It just smacks of novelty factor and I doubt a lot of people will research what keeping a pig actually entails and just get rid of him or her when they get too big or break something. I doubt it will convert many people to the veg side- remember Babe? How people could eat pork after seeing that film I do not know.....

[RoboMonkey]

Micro pigs: because not enough dogs/cats are being euthanized as it is.

[IamJen]

Even better, that they were created originally not as pets, but as "tools" for laboratory research. Ew.

[lesleythegreate]

I'm still waiting for Pandas the size of hamsters.