Then, There Was Hope

The hardest part about rescuing animals are those difficult cases where the animal has been neglected or abused. It is so unfortunate that there are many animals that fall under this category. I would like to think that most people don't intend on neglecting an animal, they just don't really know what they are getting themselves into when they buy a piglet, a kitten, or a puppy. My favorite saying is a puppy (or any animal) is not for Christmas, it's for life. Bringing an animal into your home is a life long commitment to that animal. This was not the case for Hope, she was forgotten. I received a text about a pig that was abandoned and left to fend for herself for 30 days. She was located 10 minutes from the farm, so I immediately went to the property to find her. She was in a shed filled with trash with a hole in the roof. It had been below freezing temperatures that week. When I walked in, she didn't move and I was afraid that she was dead. But she popped up and gave me a little grunt. My heart just ached when I saw the conditions she was living in. I wasn't sure if she was going to charge and bite me, or be happy to see me. I proceeded with caution, and started giving her fig newtons. They were an instant hit! There was no water on the property as it had been turned off. I quickly drove back to the farm and brought back water, pig food, pumpkin, a vitamin supplement, and of course more fig newtons. I also went to goodwill and bought every blanket they had, so that I could keep her warm. She was trembling from the cold and was dehydrated. I immediately called my neighbor who is an animal lover and has three pigs and asked for her help, as Hope was too big to put in my backseat. This was not the first time I asked for her help rescuing a pig. She assembled a team and we drove back there the next day and loaded her in a horse trailer. It took six of us to get her loaded and Hope bit a few toes along the way. She still had some fight in her, it was a good sign. I had a stall with a heater and a bed full of straw waiting for her. It's been a week now, and I have been hand feeding her and giving her gatorade mixed with water to get her rehydrated. Hope can't hear at all, she has an injured leg, and her eyesight is poor. I cried the first night after I found her. I just couldn't believe that people could be so cruel to just leave her to fend for herself. My faith in humanity waivers when I see these types of situations, but then I think about the team of people that helped me get Hope out, and it gives me some peace. The vet is coming this week to check her out. I know that she is not adoptable and will stay at the farm. My wish is to give her a comfortable life and restore her faith in people, one day at a time. If you would like to help with Hope's care, please click the donate button on the home page.