Adventures in Rooterville, A Sanctuary Inc.

A pig rescue you ask? Why?  Because it is here in Florida and a friend volunteers weekly and agreed to take Liz and I for a private tour.  Leslie and I worked together years ago back in Ohio at Warren County Board of Developmental Disabilities back when it was the known only by the numbers of the law (648) that established the County Boards.  Back when our hair was darker and thicker.  Several of our past co-workers up in Ohio recently had sat down to what is now a scheduled semi-annual lunch gtg.  Leslie and I (with Liz) visited the sanctuary and then did lunch.  I mean if you had a choice of wintering on Ohio or a warmer state, which included a pig rescue, which you choose? 

Remember the fad of adopting potbellied pigs and meeting a cute little piglet?  Yes, they are cute and adorable when they are little. Did I mention that they are cute and smart and adorable?   Then they grow. Even when the nice pig seller promises that they are miniatures and sometimes adds, "just feed them once of twice a week and it helps then stay little"......But they do grow and smart as they are they are still pigs and want to live outside.  Since Humane Societies seldom want to deal with pigs people dump them out in the country, neglect them or if the pigs are lucky their people find a sanctuary.

After opening and closing the front entrance gate and driving into the small parking area the first wave of the welcoming committee immediately come over to welcome us to Rooterville. Leslie adds many of them recognized the volunteer's cars and recognize the voices of the staff and volunteers.

And belly rubs are almost as nice as treats.....almost.

Every direction we looked were pigs enjoying being pigs.

And maybe a dog enjoying being a dog.

Liz making her first piggy friend.

As soon as the Leslie brought some watermelons out and smashed them for the crowd...the resting ones got up onto their feet and the crowd got much bigger and much more active.

And once Leslie picked up the bags of carrots she was a marked woman.

Not that Liz didn't trust her new friend but we had just seen one of the larger pigs give Leslie a little "that's going to hurt" nudge in his desire to get her attention in a "I want that carrot" competition.

The two cows were rescued from a veal sale. They were too weak and sickly to be sold. They were left for death to claim them on the sale floor. The sanctuary claimed them first. They are now both huge and healthy additions to the farm.

The goats love their climbing tower.  

The sanctuary is spread over many acres and includes several areas. Some of the pigs have full freedom to the lanes and roads and some areas are just for smaller or older pigs or new arrivals.  Leslie said some of the pigs pick their favorite areas and friends and just hand out in that area.

This dog which did appear to have maybe some cattle dog and hound in him was also a rescue and now it a particular pig's best friend.  

This is one of the feeding troughs. Hay is available all day but their main meal is mixed with all the nutritious vitamins and fed on the feeding platforms with lots of water near by.   Leslie said a couple of the piggy piggies work the system. When they hear the feeding bell ring instead of going to platform in their immediate  area they rush to where the first food goes down and then run the the next and the next as the staff continue to feed the rest of the population.

Many warm areas to stay comfortable in the winter and fans and shade provided to help make it through the hot humid summers.

Rescued ducks live here, too.

"Please don't stop petting me! Please!"

Someone is eating the garden plants and not at all worried......

And now you have seen more pigs that you expected when you woke up this morning.  Makes you think harder about your pork chops and bacon.....