I never imagined that a pig traded for some yard tools would become such an important part of our family. From the moment he arrived, I realized how emotional and social pigs could be. He followed me everywhere, hated being alone, and quickly proved just how smart he was by opening gates and breaking out of his pens. That’s how he became our “house pig.” With two small daughters, a piglet fit right into our lives—following them around, cleaning up dropped snacks, and sneaking into their beds for naps. He isn’t just a pig to us; he’s our baby.

Recently, while I was away picking up my daughter in South Carolina, my pig got into the chicken coop and ate a lot of chicken food. This led to pancreatitis and enteritis, and the situation quickly became an emergency. The vet had to come out for a house call and decided he needed surgery that night. Things were so bad that he became septic, and his blood work showed just how serious it was. The emergency vet stay and surgery were very expensive, and he still needs ongoing care and medication. I was able to bring him home and continue his care to try to offset the cost, but even the medication alone is still expensive.

I’m asking for help because my pig means everything to us. He’s brought so much joy and love into our home, and seeing him suffer has been heartbreaking. Any support would mean the world to our family and help ensure he gets the treatment he needs to recover and return to his happy, mischievous self.