I saw the cutest pig in the entire world at the Cumberland Fair in Maine on Sunday. Her name was Ivy and her owner had decorated her little pen in beautiful pictures of Ivy as a piglet and construction paper cut outs in the shapes of flowers. Then I saw a letter Ivy's owner had posted to everyone saying what a good pig she was, loves belly rubs, loves walks around the yard together, sweet sweet girl and how it's quote "realistic and natural" that she will be auctioned for slaughter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I started crying, I reached out my hand to Ivy and she nibbled lovingly on my fingers. She's being auctioned tomorrow, they think she'll go for $250-$300. I have the money in savings but not the accomadations for her at this time. I am so bummed over this...anyone have any encouraging words...can anyone take her if I pay??? She'll be in my thoughts tomorrow at 4

maybe the owner will take the money to just keep her alive while you figure something out? Keep in mind, though, that if you do the pig the favor of saving her from slaughter, you owe her a good life. I don't think you should save her unless you can find a good sanctuary for her!

Why in the world would the owner put up a notice saying that Ivy is sweet, good-natured and loves belly rubs when he knows damn well she's going to slaughter? What do the people care who bid on her whether she's a good pig or a bad pig? Will people really pay more money for a pig who likes belly rubs? The whole thing is disgusting, IMO.

I wish I had a place for Ivy to live but I don't. Good luck trying to place her.



For Ivy

I wish I could take her but I doubt my landlord would let me have a pig. I think it's repulsive that people coud rub an animal's belly and go for walks with it around the yard yet have no problem having it slaughtered. If I could take that pig, I would.

80's-- where are you? i'm sure i could find her a home around here but "here" is northern california and i have no money for transport...

Why don't you try getting in touch with the Farm Sanctuary???? They have land in Northern CA.

of course, Farm Sancuary's NY land is closer to Maine... if we think they would take her.

Oh YOU'RE in N. Cal. I read that and just misunderstood, but yes you're right

Do you think Farm Sanctuary would take her if I won her at the auction? That would be so great!!!! I have pictures of Ivy and me together (as close as I COULD get to her) and I don't know if I could get them developed if...you know...



I was SO tempted to (and probably would have if I had had a pen) wrote on her stupid little newsletter "Realistic and natural? Since when is it natural for us to eat our friends?" Worst part? Her owner is 14 years old and her parents think she's doing something wonderful that they're proud of her for...oh my word...what are we teaching our children?

I'm not sure if they'll take her but it's worth it to try.

I'm thinking what you should do is try to win her anyway and find a place to board her. Then contact sanctuaries - a few hours may not be enough time to find a place to take her permanently.



I'll send you some money as well. . . . but a thought just occurred to me . . . if they know they can get money, wouldn't this just make them raise another pig and sell him/her for slaughter and so on and so on . . .



I'm not sure what the best course of action is here . . .

she said the owner is 14. seems to me it's a 4H project so, yes, they will raise more and more and more.



"A little boy was walking along a beach covered with starfish at low tide, flinging the starfish one at a time back into the ocean. And old man walked up to him and said 'Why bother? Look how many there are? You doing that won't make any difference!' The little boy picked up another starfish and flung it into the ocean saying 'It made a difference to THAT one."



We could make a differnce to Ivy.

Any way you could show the 14-year-old owner some info on pig slaughterhouses before the auction? You know, how crowded it is, how pigs are really treated, sometimes are beaten during shipping, etc.? Most people don't know these things, & being only 14 & maybe attatched to her pig, it might change her mind if she knew where her pig was REALLY going.

I definitely considered that but I just don't know what else to do. I of course don't want to create a demand for pigs that are sent to slaughter but if I don't buy her than SHE will. Oh I wish everyone could see this little girl (okay, BIG little girl)...precious precious precious. I also can't comprehend why her owner is so okay with this. I saw her and Ivy together and she seemed very loving and affectionate towards her, but then when I asked her questions she was very down to business talking about how long she'll feed a family...how can people be SO DISCONNECTED from what they're doing?

Well contact Farm Sanctuary first and let's see what they say.

I am, first of all, not the most observant person in the world (big mess up at work totally unrelated to the subject....)



I just e-mailed Farm Sanctuary. I have no idea what they'll say...I mean I don't know how keen they'll be on the idea since we can't all go around rescuing farm animals from slaughter...it is so sad and so painfully inevitable. Hopefully they'll make an exception. Thank you all so much for your incredible responses.

I hope you mentioned how friendly the pig was.



Also try Best Friends.

Children recruited into 4H/FFA are indoctrinated with the philosophy, aims and policies of the organizations. They enter into a quasi-"contract" with the program to raise a project animal and present it for judging and auction at an affiliated event. Backing out of the "contract" subjects them to being: bullied by organization affiliates, ostracized by their peers, and alienated from the social context the organization provides. It takes a very brave child to find enough compassion to stand up to that degree of pressure.



Disconnection from the emotional relationship they MUST form with their project animal in order to handle it daily and in the show ring (particularly in the handling of pigs) is a foundation and something they're constantly reminded of during the project duration.



I would like this child to know that Ivy may not survive her trip to wherever she is going. Pig transport trailers are triple-decker semis with animals packed in tighter than they are in the factory pens. Ivy didn't grow up learning how to fight for her life and she probably won't learn fast enough on the truck. And if Ivy is purchased by a breeder as a replacement gilt (unlikely, she's probably not one of the 4-5 pure strain Frankenpigs being whipped up daily in the "pork science" genetic labs), her transistion to intensive confinement in the gestation and farrowing stalls won't be an easy one. Psychosis + dystocia = stillborns, which means Ivy won't make it much past her first farrowing at less than a year old. But I digress...



Whatever you decided to do, my thoughts and prayers are with you. And Ivy and this little girl. And if you do try to talk with her again, always remember to reinforce what empathy she obviously already has for Ivy. Never refer to her as "the pig, your pig," always say Ivy's name, and keep the girl talking about her antics, her favorite foods, her life and the future they COULD have together.

Even if Farm Sanctuary can't or won't take her, if someone somehow could get Ivy to California i CAN find a home for her. I have no money to offer but i can offer a safe happy harbor if she can get here...

yeah right their farmers, i lived around a ton of them Anyway, i know its sad to see, if my parents still had their big house in the country, my mom would love a pet pig but of course im in the same ball park, can pay for whatever, other than a house of course, and cant house anything, i have to pay my mom to "house" my 2 cats i have, plus i let the stray cat inside my apartment often when it rains she knows to run inside when i come home, and im not allowed ANY pets here, damn old farts and their old ways. i hate people

If I had the means to get her over to Cali, I would in a heartbeat...I'm not the best at problem solving so if anyone has any ideas, please throw them in. I am so open to hearing of any possibilities. Ivy's auction is tomorrow at 4PM, I will go and I will "win" her (so long as the bidding doesn't go over $850) but I don't want to win her with no place I can take her. Heck, I don't even know what I could take her home in...my escort isn't exactly equipped I am getting so panicky thinking about this.



Anyone equipped in Maine??? Anyone at all? I can pay for the expenses it would take (gas, food, you name it) for someone to get here and help me out.



Can I just give you all a great big cyber HUG and thank you for not making me feel ridiculous for feeling so passionate about this one little pig? Ah, you all are wonderful

surely there are enough of us on this board to organize a pig relay team across the US... don't you think? i mean. if everyone only had to drive across their state it wouldn't be bad at all...

I'll gladly donate towards transportation. Just let me know to whom.

We're not making you feel ridiculous because you AREN'T being ridiculous! You have compassion and empathy and huge heart and you are a lot braver than I could be. I won't even go to fairs because I used to end up in tears.

I can't help with any relay to get Ivy to California but I truly wish I could. If you can't get enough people to drive maybe you could call some airlines about shipping Ivy. It seems we have more cash on this board than transportation options. I don't know cargo prices in the U.S. though but I thought I'd throw the idea out there anyway.

yes, wolfie and i are looking into flight options but i still think that driving her would be safer and more reasonable... if we can get drivers...

Oh good, DS.

Does anyone on this board know anyone who works for an airline? They may be able to get a discount for Ivy. Usually the perks included cheap airfare and even cheaper cargo rates.

We should be able to figure out something - even a 'train' from state to state?

that was kinda what i was hoping for Alfie... where are you?

Wow, we have some really great ideas going here! I still don't know how to get her from the fair to any place since I have an itty bitty car...any ideas on that? The fair is over an hour drive from my house



Also...please excuse my ignorance but what exactly is 4H? Why do they seem to target children? Not all but a lot of owners in 4H have seemed to be under 16. What is the point of 4H? Oh and get this...they were offering a vegan burger at their food stand. My partner was so excited to discover this for me but excuse me for not trusting them as far as I can throw them.

80's--

more about 4H can be found here: http://www.4-h.org/

and i got the number for Farm Sanctuary NY: PH: 607-583-2225 ext 224

do you have any friend's with a truck? and how big a pig is Ivy?