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When my husband and I move to a bigger place, one of the first things we know we’ll do is get more pets. We want some more cats and at least one more dog. It’s possible that in the future we’ll add other species of pets to that list. I’m in the midst of deciding whether or not I want a teacup pig.
Of course, as soon as I write that a huge part of me inside shouts, “A teacup pig! Of course you want a teacup pig.” According to teacuppiggies.com, teacup pigs, or miniature pigs, are around the size of teacups at birth (hence the name), though they can grow anywhere from 30-65 pounds as an adult. They’re a type of potbellied pig, absolutely adorable, and one of the latest pet fads.
Because these pigs are a fad they can be pricey: right now the going rate for a teacup piglet is $1000. But in a few years I wonder if the price will go down, or if we’ll start to see teacup pig rescues the way we have dog and cat rescues. These guys are painfully adorable when they’re small, but because they get so big and don’t retain quite that level of cute as they age, I can see many families, sadly, wanting to get rid of their pet in a few years.
At this point I’m leaving all serious and practical consideration about getting a teacup pig to the future, when I’ll know whether or not I’m even in a situation conducive to owning one (and will know if that price has gone down). Right now I’m just speculating whether or not I’d like a teacup pig as a pet.
I have thought sometimes about getting a pet pig. I don’t mind that they might grow to around 60 pounds. I want dogs at least that big, and I still think pigs are cute when they’re larger. I have no intention of getting rid of puppies once they grow into dogs, so I don’t see why it would be different for a pet pig.
Pigs are cleaner than people think (they’re mostly covered in mud when they’re put in an environment with a lot of mud), they can get along with dogs and cats with the proper training (which is similar to how one socializes dogs with each other), and they are intelligent.
At the moment I just can’t stop wondering whether or not owning a teacup pig would put me off eating meat, or at least pig meat. My husband says I’m being silly and maybe I am, but considerations like these might prove crucial in making a future decision about getting that kind of pet.
When thinking about getting any pet, especially ones to which we aren’t accustomed, it’s little thoughts like these that are just as important as reflections about larger issues like if we’d be capable of properly taking care of that pet.
I’m just speculating, because my husband and I aren’t yet in a situation where we could seriously think about having a pet pig. Still, it’s good to let thoughts like these rattle around in my head so that when I am able to actually consider getting a pet pig, I’ve already spent some time thinking about the decision.
What do you think about pet pigs? Would you consider owning one, or are they one of those animals that should stay on the farm?
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*(This image by hthg1983 is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.)
