Four former gestation sows rescued from the Midwest floods remain with us, including Nikki, who had her babies on the levee in Oakville, Iowa; Mabel, who was pregnant at the time of her rescue and gave birth soon after arriving at the New York Shelter; Rose, who tragically lost her 10 babies on the levee; and Honey, who was so burned and emaciated when we found her that, at one point, we thought she wouldn’t make it. Nikki and Mabel’s babies still live here – though Mabel and crew have an adoptive home lined up and, like most of the other pigs from Iowa, will be moving soon.
So now, about seven months after these extraordinary pigs were saved from factory farms and floods, Nikki, Mabel, Honey, Rose, and the rest are experiencing many firsts – among them, the joy of playing in the snow! While the pigs in our main resident herd sleep through many hours of the cold months, often refusing to go out in the snow, the Iowa pigs are thrilled with their winter wonderland and can’t be kept inside. (Hog industry representatives have claimed that modern pigs can no longer tolerate the cold due to their breeding and therefore can no longer live outside. The Iowa pigs' desire to be out in the elements is just one more example of how we know different!)
Running, playing and sinking up to their chests in the pure white snow, the pigs literally ate up the experience of going out in the fluffy stuff for the first time. They stayed outside until their feet turned pink and then, at the end of the day, created the biggest straw bed I’ve ever seen! Exhausted from their merry-making, they slept soundly until the next day.
The fact that these pigs, especially the former gestation sows who spent years imprisoned in 2-foot-wide crates where they could barely move, are able to have days like this now is simply incredible. Spending time with them on this special day refueled me, further strengthening my resolve to stop factory farming abuse and encourage people to save lives by going vegan. If these pigs’ passion for life inspires you too, please join me in spreading the animals’ stories far and wide.
You can learn more about the pigs and see them enjoy their first snow below.
You can learn more about the pigs and see them enjoy their first snow.
Posted by: minesrescueservices | February 17, 2009 at 02:53 AM