Warning for pot bellied pig owners

[teidra]

It was recently brought to my attention that there are people out there who prey on classified ads for pot bellied pigs looking for a new home. These people watch for ads giving away these animals or selling them cheap and then as horrible as it sounds they eat them. I do not own one but I wanted to make owners aware of this.

[LittleVeggi]

How awful!!! :( :(

[Ann Vole]

I went to several exotic animal auctions and many of the people who bought animals there were only looking to stock their freezers and miniature goats and pot bellied pigs were often bought by them because they make good thanksgiving and Christmas dinners when guests arive! I was heart-broken that I could not buy more when they were selling dozens of young males for 5 or 10 dollars! (my car could only hold a few of them and I soon found out it is illegal for me to "harbour livestock or poulty" in the hamlet where I live)

[moosmom]

as I read this I look at Mu my pot belly pig and think... how the hell could you eat him? to me he's like a CAT....ugh... the stupid things stupid people do.

[teidra]

That was my thought when I heard about this to. I can't understand how you could eat anyones pet. But as I keep looking into it I am finding out I am way behind on this kind of thing. Extremely Gross if you ask me.

[LittleVeggi]

And I'm a vegetarian, so this sickens me even more!

[Ann Vole]

I was in 4-H as a kid and raised two steer cows to be sold to grocery stores. I believe strongly that cattle are the smartest of land animals and are much smarter then horses and dogs. I was strongly attached to my second steer and trained him the meaning of about 40 commands and did homework while on his back while he grazed. I find there is realy no difference between eating a human and eating beef except us humans give humans a higher value of life then non-humans. Intelligence tests on domestic hogs puts them on the top of the list for non-primates and not far behind chimpanzees.

[LittleVeggi]

Cows are my 2nd favorite animal ;) I adore them so much and I think they are underestimated. :(

[moosmom]

pigs are the 4th smartest mammel on earth actually, my mu is basically as smart as a 3 yr old child.

[LittleVeggi]

Yes, I've heard that pigs intelligence level can be much higher than a dogs! :)

[jensmenagerie]

Sometimes it is frustrating having such an intelligent pet, because when you need to , you can't trick them into anything. I love having a pig for a pet though. Speaking of the horror of pig and cattle slaughter, doesn't it just break your heart when you pass the semi-trucks transporting them on the freeway? I always get tears in my eyes.

[Ann Vole]

Its the truckloads of 4-H "pets" that get me the most because they all trusted their humans and now are treated like wild animals and most 4-H kids shed a few tears when they see their animal for the last time.

I cryed when I saw ads for beef for a while.

[Jiffykat]

That's horrible. Durn omnivorous people thinking if it cant' get away fast enough or outsmart them it should be eaten. Quite frankly, I am liken the herbivore lifestyle.

[castiglione]

Right after pot bellied pigs first became popular as pets in North America, a lot of them ended up in slaughter houses.

Their owners didn't know how to cope with them once they got older and animal shelters wouldn't take them (since they were considered livestock) and just abandoning them wasn't exactly an option so many of these owners just took them to a slaughterhouse and, in some cases, even took home the meat to eat.

[castiglione]

That was my thought when I heard about this to. I can't understand how you could eat anyones pet. But as I keep looking into it I am finding out I am way behind on this kind of thing. Extremely Gross if you ask me.

Whether an animal is regarded as a pet, pest or dinner is pretty much a matter of culture and circumstances. I'm afraid almost ALL animals can fit all three categories depending on the situation.

As for the intelligence of pigs, they are almong the smartest of land animals - their intelligence level is right below (almost on par with) that of primates. So they are definitely smarter than dogs. They are capable of abstract thinking, of which dogs are not capable.

Pot bellied pigs are attracting the interest of backyard farmers because of their small size. Slaughtering and butchering them is a lot easier than doing the same to a 200-250 lb pig.

[KittyRat]

For those who eat meat, and yet are horrified by this, let me just say: So?

What's the difference? So they're eating an animal meant to be a pet. To me, eating a cat is quite the same as eating a farm chicken, pig, cow, etc. IMO animals are NOT to be eaten, and are especially not to be treated the way they are in our sickening meat industry. Others may feel differently, but to me eating animals is just plain wrong. A vegetarian diet is completely balanced assuming the right food choices are made, and is actually healthier than the average meat-eater's diet. I don't care if it's a cat, fish, chicken, cow, or a pet pig - it's a living, feeling creature, and it's not to be eaten. Or, for those who DO eat meat, you don't have much room to judge what type of meat others choose. Cows and farm pigs and chickens are just as deserving of life as your cat, pig whatever - and they feel just as much pain.

'Nuff said.

[castiglione]

If eating animals is wrong, it implies that killing animals is wrong.

Which raises the interesting question as to how people are expected to feed their pets that are obligate carnivores, i.e. cats.

Try feeding a cat a vegetarian diet and you will end up with a severly malnurished cat that is probably better of being euthanized than being made to live in such a state.

[KittyRat]

If eating animals is wrong, it implies that killing animals is wrong.

Which raises the interesting question as to how people are expected to feed their pets that are obligate carnivores, i.e. cats.

Try feeding a cat a vegetarian diet and you will end up with a severly malnurished cat that is probably better of being euthanized than being made to live in such a state.

Maybe I didn't phrase things well. I don't believe that killing animals is wrong, at all...Depends on the circumstances. If our meat animals were raised and killed humanely, I might still be eating meat...Or at least I wouldn't begrudge those who do in any way. What bothers me is how intense the suffering of those animals is. Why add to that, if humans can live perfectly healthy lives meat-free?

On the other hand, I would NEVER feed my cats, dogs, rats, or any other pet a vegetarian diet...Because they NEED animal protein to be healthy (except in those insane allergy cases). In that case, it's a tough position...But I won't sacrifice the health of my pets, even for something I believe so strongly in. It's a tough topic, yes.

Also, choosing pet foods wisely helps with the inhumane issues as well. The non-hormone, human-grade-ingredients foods (which I feed my pets anyway) lean slightly towards better treatment for meat animals, even if it's only for the better quality meat. I guess it comes down to doing the best you can, in that case.

[Spudnik]

Not ALL animals are kept in those conditions. Although I agree, even if you're buying 'freerange' from the supermarket, they're often still awful. If you don't like the conditions, but still wish to eat meat, I feel that the butchers is the best bet... that's where I go to buy organs and bones for my dog. Not only that, but I trust the cleanliness of the meat there more than the supermarket.

[Jessicat]

I had to move to an apartment and could not take my Lab- I put an ad in the paper for Free to good home' and I had TWO different Ethnic Restaurants call me within 2 days of each other. I did not let them come by to see my dog needless to say.
I did find a good home eventually, but be wary of that.

[Ratty Lover]

I had to move to an apartment and could not take my Lab- I put an ad in the paper for Free to good home' and I had TWO different Ethnic Restaurants call me within 2 days of each other. I did not let them come by to see my dog needless to say.
I did find a good home eventually, but be wary of that.

What do you mean?

[Jessicat]

What are you asking? You don't understand the post?

[ewin2002]

I'm sorry, but people eating animals is a way of life. It is the same thing as animals eating other animals. It is the food chain and the way that our body's function correctly. That is why are teeth are the way that they are, they are made for ripping and shredding meat. I think that there are some animals that just shouldn't be ate, but who am I to say which ones?? In certain societies they eat different animals for different reasons. In some countries cows and pigs are sacred and eating them is a sin. Yes that is weird to us, but it wouldn't be if that was how we were raised our entire lives, the same is true when other people eat goats and horses and dogs. It's just the way things are. I know that we think that slaughter houses are inhumane, but that is how they drive costs of food down and we are a country who loves a good deal. I don't really understand why a person would slaughter a pot bellied over a regular pig, considering the hard work involved in the butchering process you think if they were going to do it they would want to get more out of it. We raise our own pigs and cows for meat. We get to make sure they die quickly and painlessly and we know where our meat comes from. We know what it was fed and there are no chemicals put into the food we eat. Yes we still buy store bought meat occasionally, but about 80% of our meat comes from our farm. I know it seems inhumane to some people, but like I said, it's the way you were raised. Many animals kill other animals for food, that is the same with us. You can't but animals higher than humans. We are on top of the food chain, it is the natural order of life.

[Raven27]

We raise our own pigs and cows for meat. We get to make sure they die quickly and painlessly and we know where our meat comes from.
Well done :) ewin2002
to me (a vegetarian) this is how everyone that wants to eat meat should have do it.

It is when animals are shoved into overcrowded trucks, transported over long distances, without adequate food water or room to move, then kept in a holding yard where they are still overcrowded, sometimes injured, smelling & hearing death all around them for hours. then theyre finally put out of their misery & thats not always quick & painless. That is just wrong IMO.

Its the people (no one here) who go all gooey eyed over a lamb or calf & say how sweet & lovely it is, then go home & cook up a lamb roast without even a thought to what it was when it was alive - If you couldn't hurt a cute little lambie, why is it now ok to eat one?

[Jiffykat]

You can't but animals higher than humans. We are on top of the food chain, it is the natural order of life.We are only higher up on the food chain because we learned how to use tools before other mammals did, you must certainly admint, that with out tools we have almost no defense system what-so-ever, unless you are really muscley, so we definately would not be the top of the food chain. And you have to agree, there are many people who are so dumb, that left to their own devices would be dead in days if not hours, and certainly don't deserve their higher up on the food chain status.

[Spudnik]

Welcome back Jiffykat!

[Jiffykat]

Thanks, it has been a while since I have been on.

[TiaMaria]

People just don't understand the concept that certain animals are pets and certain animals are for food. It all makes me pretty sick to my stomach, any pet shouldn't be hurt or treated as food. People need to open their eyes and listen to their hearts and feelings instead of their stomachs..Sickos!

[Spudnik]

So do you think it's fine to eat chickens and cows, but not cats and dogs?

[TiaMaria]

I'll eat a cow, a cow isn't a pet, as for pork, chicken etc. I won't eat any of that..Maybe you should read the post again..think you misunderstood..

[Raven27]

I just don't understand, how does the cow in the paddock next door (bred to be food) deserve to be eaten any more than the pet cow in my paddock, they are both living, feeling, intelligent, loving bovine, that have every right to live a long healthy life just like any other creature on this earth.

[TiaMaria]

Cows are specifically bred for food purposes, I'm not saying it's right but that's just the way it goes. I know exactly what you are talking about because on the farm I have a cow named Princess, her mommy died after she was born, so we bottle fed her, she is just so friendly and lovable. I wouldn't dare send her to the slaughter house. She will be with us forever. I guess we just get a deeper bond when we hand raise animals then when they are just "there".

[Spudnik]

But there are places when cats, dogs and guinea pigs are bred specifically for food purposes. I wouldn't call those people sick just because they are different to me.

If I have misunderstood, just say. :)

[TiaMaria]

Yea I know, there is a very thin line between food and pets. It's sad but true. You at 100% correct Spudnik!

[Robster]

Im vegitarian and the way I see it is how can you eat meat but care for animals? Thats like saying I like cows, but id prefer have their throat slit and skinned alive, killing them just so I can have more dinner selections. Its not right, and this isn't propaganda.. but some of you people should try begin vegi.

[Firewolf]

I'm a vegan and if the animals were killed painlessly and were given good condictions it would be at least better

[Pepperland]

Yeah.

My mom told me that some people do kill poultry that way, and it's because some religion (forgot) won't eat animals that suffered.

[thefab4]

I've been reading this thread for a few days. It's really interesting. So I finally decided to add my two cents(for what it's worth at 1 a.m.). I don't have a pot bellied pig, but I do think they are adorable.

What really gets me is that those people have no respect for the fact that it is someones beloved pet that they had to give up for whatever reason. It's not just food, it's a family member. For goodness sakes you wouldn't adopt children just to eat them. If they can't afford to buy their own humanely raised and slaughtered meat then just don't eat meat, there are lots of alternatives. Don't get someones pet from the paper for dinner.

I'm not a vegetarian, but I don't eat that much meat and I don't eat factory farmed meat or peoples pets. It's sad that people would even consider taking someones pet to eat.

P.S. Jessicat, that's just scary about your dogs, a restaraunt! Makes me never want to go out and eat again.

[thefab4]

And you have to agree, there are many people who are so dumb, that left to their own devices would be dead in days if not hours, and certainly don't deserve their higher up on the food chain status.

By the way this one made me laugh out loud. I've worked retail for years and let me tell you I think I've met every single one of those people.:eek:

[allyg8tor]

Im vegitarian and the way I see it is how can you eat meat but care for animals? Thats like saying I like cows, but id prefer have their throat slit and skinned alive, killing them just so I can have more dinner selections. Its not right, and this isn't propaganda.. but some of you people should try begin vegi.

I completely disagree. I heard of a snake who befriended a rat that was meant to be food for it... The rat lives in the snake tank to this day. The snake eats other rats, but it won't eat that one. That is a perfect example of how you can care for something that is "food" and still eat your normal diet. Also, I've tried being vegetarian 5 times, and I can't do it.

Oh, and all of the people I know who are vegetarians either still eat fish or need to take protien supplements & all sorts of pills.

What really gets me is that those people have no respect for the fact that it is someones beloved pet that they had to give up for whatever reason. It's not just food, it's a family member. For goodness sakes you wouldn't adopt children just to eat them. If they can't afford to buy their own humanely raised and slaughtered meat then just don't eat meat, there are lots of alternatives. Don't get someones pet from the paper for dinner.

I'm not a vegetarian, but I don't eat that much meat and I don't eat factory farmed meat or peoples pets. It's sad that people would even consider taking someones pet to eat.


Agreed.

[abbyful]

Animals are food. I love my pets, I won't give them up, but I know to other people, they are livestock, not pets. My pet mice are snake-food to someone else. My cat is regular form of meat for someone else. Just like to me, cattle, pigs, chickens, ostriches, etc., are livestock. I've had "pets" of most of the animals I've eaten. (I grew up on a farm, I was a 4-H kid, so I knew that some of the animals I raised would be auctioned for meat, but that's just the way things work. It's the food chain.)

There's no laws against eating a pot bellied pig, or any other domestic animal for that matter. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but it's not illegal. And I understand that different people or different cultures see things differently than I do. I won't hold that against them.

[phill1245]

i no that this thread was from along time ago but i completelty agree with abbyful i mean just becuase other people may have differnt thougths and believe's dosnt mean that you would treat them differnt.

about 5yrs ago i use to live in a suburb called st auburns which has many people of a differnt race and even though we had 5 dogs and loved all them and were friends with are vietnamese neighbours they didnt see any problem of taking are multese X shitzu dog kiling it then skinning it and hanging it on the close line and of the night they ate our dog they even invited us over for dinner, even though we were shocked and appoled by what they had done we understood that that is there believ's and they see there is nothing wrong wiht that.

we eventaully did move about 4mths later becuase there was alot of anger in the neighbourhood about missing dogs and people accusing them of taking them whihc in most cases were true.

sorry again about how this trhead was from along time ago but i though i would just like to add this story to it.

phill

[phill1245]

just to clarify we didnt go to eat dinner but they bought us over a plate that we threw in the bin.

[Headstrong]

That is utterly disguisting.

[phill1245]

i no it was very discusting!

[Headstrong]

I don't understnad how anybody could do that.

[phill1245]

like i said that is there believ's they see there is nothing wrong with eating a dog or cat or any pet for that matter, they use to have alot of budgies and i mean alot and they werent breeding them to sell if you no what i mean.

[HealthyObsessio]

When I was younger I used to hate meat because chewing on an animal made me feel sick. However, I am allergic to nuts, so I am not able to get protein from there. As a result, my mom forced me to eat meat.

When I got into my teens, I went vegan for a few months, because I was at the age when I could make my own choices. Well, I ended up like a cat on vegan food - severely malnourished, and my doctor basically banned me from ever doing it again.
I have a condition where I need to eat on a regular basis or else my body does not function properly. I get dizzy spells and feel weak, and I also get massive migraines as well as various other side effects. My point is, sometimes people actually NEED to eat meat. As you can probably tell, I am a member on this forum, and therefore, I have pets. I love all of my pets very much, but.. I also love meat.

When it comes to boycotting meat eating, it would take a lot more people to be vegetarian for the meat industry to actually feel the effect. The fact is, it makes no difference whether or not YOU personally eat meat or not. The farmers will still send their animals to the slaughterhouse and other people will still buy the meat. Unfortunately that is just how life is.

Humans are not meant to be herbivores. It just doesn't work. Nowadays, we have all sorts of vitamins and supplements that can be taken to balance your diet... but the fact that they are called supplements tells that they are in place of something that our bodies need.

I will finish off by saying this - cows are my absolute favourite animals. They are completely adorable and lovable, and I have named many of our cows. However, my favourite food would have to be steak. It is just in my nature. I eat what my body (not mind) craves, because my body craves what it needs.

I used to not even be able to walk into the meat department of a store without puking. Now, I have come to grips with that fact that it is just how things are. It is natural, and it what my body needs.

[phill1245]

i tottaly agree with your theory!

[Rat101010101010]

Yes but they don't need to buy live pigs and KILL THEM TO EAT.