A VERY SPECIAL SQUIGGLE!

Squiggles the well-loved pig spent her days roaming a four and a half acre olive grove in Martinborough, which she shared with her guardians Leanne French and Gregory Keith, and a few sheep.

"We loved her to bits and it broke our heart when she died," Leanne told SAFE. "Just by being around she made others think differently about pigs and about what they were eating."

When Squiggles wasn't outside doing what pigs do best - being active and social - she would come inside the house via her own pig door and keep Leanne company, who works from home as a writer and therapist.

Squiggles would spend her evenings doing exactly as she pleased, which usually meant curling up on the sofa with her human family. At night she had her own bed to go to with her own blankets. There she could sleep in peace and quiet, blissfully unaware of the reality most factory farmed sows face each night.

Squiggles was one of the lucky ones. She was spared the torment of a life behind bars, where pigs just like her spend their nights sleepless and screaming, unable to even turn around in their sow stalls and farrowing crates.

"Somehow I have always felt she was entirely special and that her life shouldn't be in vain," says Leanne, who plans to write a book in the future that raises awareness of these extraordinary animals.

Squiggles, described by Leanne as "the loveliest pig on Earth," is a testament to how inquisitive and happy pigs can be when given the chance to carry out their natural behaviour, far away from the cruelty and confinement of a factory farm.

SAFE sent condolences to Leanne and Gregory after hearing Squiggles passed away after loosing her battle with a respiratory disease a few months ago.

ROLLING AROUND WITH OTHELLO

SAFE supporters Christina and Heiko Kaiser share their story of Othello, a rescued wild Captain Cooker piglet. With all his creature comforts and new-found friends on a lifestyle block, Othello has grown up to become quite a clever, yet contented handful!

When my husband, Heiko, found the tiny piglet alone in the bush suffering an eye infection and having difficulty seeing, he decided to intervene and help the little youngster out. Heiko recalled seeing a wild sow with her piglets earlier in the day and believed the piglet got lost and was left behind.

The abandoned piglet weighed a mere 1.5 kilograms and could be easily held in one hand. The vet said he was only a few weeks old and would not have survived without his mum. We decided to name him Othello and we were pleased to see he quickly responded to the veterinary treatment for his eye infections. We raised him on a bottle and at our home in Rotorua for the first three months, where he ran playfully around with our dogs and cats. Pigs are definitely very clever. He only had to watch one of our cats use the cat flap before he was straight through! He also enjoyed rides in the car and trips out on the boat to swim!

He soon became too big for our suburban house and was digging up the garden so we decided to relocate him out to a large lifestyle block that Heiko manages. Since then, more than three years ago, I have been driving out there every week taking Othello for walks through the forest. He follows without a lead and knows his name, although he seems to have selective hearing, just like cats! On the other hand, he has the same pack mentality as dogs and never wants to be left on his own!

Othello spends his days foraging with his grazing buffalo pals and their calves. The deer seem afraid of him and take off if he comes too close, and the horses chase and try to kick him, so he sensibly avoids the horse paddocks!

Just like dogs, I think Othello would really enjoy the company of another pig so I am keen to hear of anyone in the Rotorua area with a suitable pig that needs a home.

Email Anthony at anthony@safe.org.nz with details which will be forwarded to Christina and Heiko.

STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER

A young pig (named Rupert) was saved from a short brutal life thanks to the courage, compassion and kindness of some very special people. SAFE education officer Nichola Kriek tells how Rupert found his way from a grotty backyard to strawberry fields.

Rupert's future looked bleak. At only three months of age his life was destined to be short and not at all sweet. He was a backyard pig living without proper shelter and destined for the pot. Some people had become aware of Rupert's plight and with advice from SAFE managed to negotiate his release with his captors. Soon after Rupert arrived at SAFE wrapped in a blanket, oblivious to the radical change in his fate.

Rupert quickly impressed the SAFE team with his friendly and inquisitive nature. He loved belly rubs and would climb onto your lap given half a chance, so we knew he would make a great piggy companion for someone willing to give him a new home.

SAFE campaign director Hans Kriek (my husband) quickly set about finding a suitable home for our new porcine friend.

"Pigs are not the easiest animals to rehome. If you have a prize vegetable garden and no fencing a pig will soon be in paradise - but you might be in need of some tranquillisers once you discover the state of your broccoli and courgettes," says Hans.

Since Rupert couldn't stay in the office Hans and I took him home where he quickly made himself at home in his temporary accommodation inside our shed, building an elaborate nest out of newspaper. It was fantastic to see his reaction when he reached his new ‘digs.'

After several days of calling all available contacts Hans managed to find an ideal home, once a strawberry farm. "When we let Rupert loose in his new paddock he was overjoyed by the newfound space. He ran around in circles and literally squealed with delight," says Hans.

Rupert has two Kunekune pigs to keep him company and looks set to live a long and happy life.

Working at SAFE we don't always get to meet the animals we are trying to help. Our experience with Rupert was very special and a timely reminder of the importance of our work. The sheer joy for life Rupert displayed when released into his new home was wonderful and makes us even more determined to help the other ‘Ruperts' out there who equally deserve the same happiness.

Saving Kune!

A beautiful 6-month-old kunekune piglet was spared from being slaughtered and eaten after a compassionate pig-loving woman leapt to the pig's rescue. The unnamed pig (we shall call Kune) found temporary refuge with long-time SAFE supporter Linda Nunn, who runs the animal rehoming charity Animal Re-homing, until Kune could be guaranteed a permanent, loving home.

Sadly, Kune needed urgent veterinary treatment so Linda put out a special plea to raise the necessary funds. Learning of Kune's plight and wanting to support Animal Rehoming, SAFE funded Kune's veterinarian expenses, which ensured the adoption process would go ahead without any further delay. Kune is now happily enjoying his life outdoors in a piggy haven with Maggie, another kunekune sow, for company.

His love of pigs . . .

SAFE supporter Paul Stevenson is passionate about pigs. His Dargaville property is home to a number of them whom he absolutely adores. He shares his thoughts and experience.

I hope my pigs are happy. I try to give them everything they need. I talk to them. I stroke them. After my big boar, Jimmy, has his breakfast he wants a kiss. He's my mate. If I am working in the garden he keeps me company.

Reading their minds is a never-ending challenge but I'm learning slowly. I understand when they are annoyed or in pain and it's easy to tell when they enjoy nice food, having a tummy rub or lying in the sun. The more I learn about pigs the more I realise they are similar to people. They have thoughts and emotions; they can be depressed, lonely, sad and so on. We are brainwashed to think pigs are dirty, loathsome and brutish "things". A pig is "Just a pig!" Similar things were once said about black people and the working class. Women, too!

I always ask visitors to say hello to my boys and give them a rub. We don't like to be ignored; why should they? In fact, pigs are extremely friendly, gregarious chaps. They go out of their way to make friends with whoever comes their way - cows, sheep, dogs or people! It is terribly sad when people brush them aside; it must hurt their feelings.

Pigs have an extremely wide vocabulary. When they "gurgle" and "coo" as I rub their bellies I know they enjoy it. After I feed the two older boars, Fred and Jimmy, I collect their dishes and say goodnight. Fred always expects a belly rub. His legs stick up in the air! Jimmy sometimes flops over and murmurs away. He will stretch and completely relax, heaving a big sigh. After a few minutes he goes right off to sleep.

Conditions on factory farms make me weep. It is too painful to think about. No wonder those sows look so utterly miserable. Imagine spending your entire life like that only then to be turned into sausages. What type of person needs such cheap meat? We are prepared to treat sensitive creatures so cruelly just to save a few dollars. To spend on what? I will look forward to participating in the campaign; it's very close to my heart.

Pig Adoption

Secure, life long homes are occasionally required for pigs in New Zealand. Some are unwanted or no longer able to be suitably housed while others are physically rescued from being cruelly mistreated.

If you feel you are in a position to care for a free ranging pig please contact SAFE to express in an interest in being included on a list of prospective pig adopters.

Please note you will be required to demonstrate you have suitable land and facilities, can ensure the pigs safety and security and are able to offer a life long home.

Email your contact details along with a brief explanation why you would like to offer a pig a home. Send to: safe@safe.org.nz