Help Bring Pearl the Pig From a Lab to Sanctuary!

Good morning, friends and animal lovers (same thing in my book).

I want to share a minor miracle with you.

Several weeks ago, a fellow farm sanctuary posted an urgent plea. A laboratory in Boston had agreed to release one of their subject animals, a two-year-old Yorkshire pig, which almost NEVER happens! That sanctuary was full, and unless someone committed to take her in, this pig, like countless others before her, would be euthanized by the lab.

We said yes. We said yes because our peer sanctuary was generously willing to quarantine and hold her until we could build an appropriate home and enclosure for her, and because, well, it was the right thing to do.

Most people know that pigs are intelligent. I have experienced them as also thoughtful, kind, inquisitive, and empathic. And pushy and grumpy and everything in between. Big Dave, our first big pig, seen below, will always be one of the great loves of my life.

We met (and named) Pearl last week. Despite her background, she is very connected to people. Whatever experiments she was used for, she was never harmed physically or emotionally and she is happy and trusting. We are not ever going to know many details of her past.

Laboratories do not typically release subject animals. They are often horribly scarred and disfigured or full of proprietary drugs or other medical devices that could be used by competitors in the multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical industry. So these animals are euthanized when their usefulness as research subjects ends.

This is not a situation we can change right now, though we should all be working to end suffering in all its forms.

The release of Pearl to sanctuary opens a door, however. If this goes well, the lab will consider releasing other animals.

When James and I travelled to the quarantine barn to meet Pearl, when I tell you it was love at first sight, it is no exaggeration. Pearl has never been outside. She has lived her entire life indoors on a concrete slab. And yet, she is bright and loving and full of hope. And, she is cleaner than any pig I’ve ever seen in my whole life. We have a perfect spot picked out for her, a forest paradise complete with a muddy stream where she can root and wallow all day long. I cannot wait to let her loose in the forest and watch her discover her heaven in the dirt! We have the previous experience and the space to take a big pig, typically one of the hardest animals to place in sanctuary.

Our biggest immediate challenge is housing for Pearl. She is already 300+ pounds, and will likely grow to 600. We took a leap of faith and have ordered a building which will give her a spacious stall and a sheltered "patio", but will also solve our hay storage problem and offer the other animals additional shelter (it has a 10-foot overhang) if they wish, while keeping them safely separated from Pearl, but close enough that she will never be lonely.

The building costs $22,005. It will last a lifetime. I am happy to share the invoice and details if you are interested.

The enclosure Pearl needs to be a happy "forest pig" is $1598 for the fencing that is needed to contain such a large, strong, and highly intelligent animal as Pearl certainly is, and an additional $720 for fenceposts and gates. A concrete pad that will ensure a dry, clean home for Pearl is an additional $3920. We set up the Poore Farm Sanctuary during the crisis of the pandemic, when many sanctuaries were over capacity, and much of our set-up was intended to be temporary. This is a building that will house not only Pearl, but other animals in need of sanctuary for years to come. We intend to do it right.

The amount set on this fundraiser is for the remainder of what we owe on the barn. We have depleted our sanctuary reserves to make this deposit, but we are committed to making this work.

Please help if you can, and share with others who may wish to be involved in this groundbreaking placement.

We have until mid-April to take her, and her arrival coincides with a big birthday for me. Other people may wish for other things for their 50th birthdays. I will be the happiest woman in the world if my second half century of life can begin with opening the door to more sanctuary for animals like Pearl.

Thank you all for your support. Stay tuned for more updates as we prepare for Pearl’s arrival.

We know there are SO MANY pressing needs in this world, and this can feel overwhelming.

Just remember that each one of these souls can open a door to a little less suffering for another animal. Pearl’s successful placement may mean that others are saved. And what’s one more happy face at the Poore Farm? It just feels right. ❤️

Please note that the Poore Farm Sanctuary is not a 501(c)3. Because this is our home, there are some complications with such a designation, though we are working towards this goal. If you want to know more about what we do and/or provide ongoing support, please visit https://www.patreon.com/PooreFarmSanctuary. Thank you!