PENDER COUNTY, N.C. — People having pigs as pets has been a growing trend over the years, but for many, it can become a bigger responsibility than they hoped to take on.
Happy and Sunshine Pig Sanctuary in Pender County says other pig shelters in the Cape Fear region are filling up with surrendered pigs.
Nicole Talley has always loved pigs. Now, she has 75 of them at Happy and Sunshine Pig Sanctuary.
“We have gotten in pigs because of family death, family illness, people not realizing how big they get,” Talley said. “I mean people just get them because they don’t do their research, so we try to stress, do your research.”
Talley says many people get a miniature pig, not realizing how big they will grow — even on the smaller side. On top of that, they may not understand the nature of a pig and surrender them after they’ve become a nuisance to their home.
“They’ll eat your drywall, I mean they will tear stuff up, because they need to be outside,” Talley said. “They need to be able to root.”
It’s becoming a problem everywhere. Talley says other pig shelters in the area are at capacity, and she’s had to take on more pigs than expected.
“I don’t think my dream was 75 of them,” Talley said. “But I can’t, it’s hard for me to say no.”
That’s because she has a lot of love to give.
“When we’re done taking care of all of their needs, we try sitting down with them and loving on them,” Talley said. "Because you know, they need love.”
But it’s a lot of love for one person to give. That’s why she has help from volunteers, and one special 13-year-old.
AJ Burke wanted to become the youngest Eagle Scout in his Boy Scout troop.
“You need to get all 14 of these gray badges, and then you need seven extra of the ones in green,” Burke said. “And so after you do that, you do other requirements, like keeping in leadership and building your Eagle project, and then you do your board of review.”
Burke's Eagle project was to build an additional shelter for Talley’s pigs. He designed a 7-by-8 foot wooden shelter with a metal roof and installed it with the help of his troop.
Burke says he loves pigs, and he’s happy to have made a difference.
“It just makes me happy knowing that when I come here, I can see that the pigs in there are wagging tails and that they’re safe from the elements and other animals,” Burke said, “And that they can just be well and safe.”
Talley loves seeing their tails wag just as much as Burke does.
“It means they’re happy, so they’re getting fed every day, they’re getting clean water, they have clean bedding, they have a home,” Talley said, “And they’re not gonna go anywhere. This is where they’re gonna live until they can’t live anymore.”
Burke was made an Eagle Scout just before Thanksgiving — and before his 14th birthday in December, which officially makes him the youngest Eagle Scout in his troop. He says he’ll continue to come to the sanctuary to visit his pig friends.
Talley says Happy and Sunshine Pig Sanctuary is accepting volunteers to help out with the pigs every Saturday. To volunteer, you can reach out to Talley on the shelter’s Facebook page.
