Teacup pigs are cute and adorable animals that are kept as pets by many people. Originally, they were developed for use in medical research. They were used for research in the fields of toxicology, pharmacology and aging. This breed was developed because larger pigs were difficult to work with because they weighed more than 500 kilograms. Before teacup pigs became popular, potbellied pigs were in demand. They were being adopted kept as pets in apartments and farms but later people realized that they grew up to be huge animals and shortly thereafter many pigs were abandoned in animal shelters.
These pigs are also called miniature pigs and micro pigs. After Paris Hilton bought a teacup pig in 2009 and after that it became a trend to keep these pigs as pets. The problem with keeping these pigs as pets was that since they were not a specified breed no one could actually guarantee that they could remain small all their life. Some unscrupulous breeders tell their customers to keep their pigs on a strict diet which results in the pig starving most of the time and this results in stunted growth. Pigs have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years so bringing one would mean taking responsibility for the animal for quite some time. They are adorable little creatures that can be house trained. Like dogs they can bond with their owners but they also need our love and attention. If they are not trained properly they can become aggressive so if you do bring one make sure you take some time and train it well. Most people blindly follow a fashion trend and get teacup pigs home without knowing a thing about how to take care of them. So when the pig grows up and weighs about 100 kilograms they get frightened and abandon it in animal rescue homes. If the animal shelters cannot find a home for the pigs soon then most of them are euthanized. Why should a poor animal suffer just because its owner was stupid enough not to know that the teacup wouldn’t remain small throughout its life? Was it only the size of the animal that mattered and not the bond between the pig and its owner? Just because the pig grew up does that mean that it should be abandoned and then euthanized? If this is the case then teacup pigs should not be sold in pet stores anymore. The breeding of teacup pigs should be banned and people should not be allowed to keep them as pets.
THE TRUTH ABOUT TEACUP PIGS
Teacup pigs are not another different breed but they are malnourished and underfed pot bellied pigs. They are kept on a strict diet regime so that they don’t increase in size and remain small little pigs but this ultimately leads to their death or erratic behaviour because they remain small but their organs grow and due to their starvation they become aggressive. To prevent breeders from producing more teacup pigs neutering and spaying is the best option. The logic behind this is simple…..why bring more pigs into this world when there are already so many abandoned pigs looking for someone to love them. Every year thousands of pigs are abandoned because their owners fail to realize that the teacup pigs wouldn’t fit in teacups forever and will one day grow up and become normal sized pot bellied pigs. Another reason that they are abandoned is that people bring them without checking if keeping farm animals is permitted in their area or not. The local municipal bodies don’t allow people to keep pigs because they aren’t sure whether they are clean or not and they fear that pigs might pose a threat to the health of humans.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR PIGLET FEEL COMFORTABLE
Pigs are highly intelligent animals and if properly motivated (with treats) they can learn to do any trick. It is also true that some pigs do like to watch the television and can get mad at you if you dare to switch off the television while they are watching it. Pigs love soft blankets and carry it around with them. They love to keep warm so make sure you get your piglet a warm and soft blanket. If you plan to leave your pig alone for some time make sure it has a playpen where adequate water is there with a litter box. Don’t expect your pig to learn how to use the litter box in a day, you have to be patient and train it well.
Pigs do not have fur; they have hair so people who are allergic to other animals won’t be allergic to pigs. Pigs love to play in pools but they can drown too so make sure they know how to reach to the steps so that they can come out of the pool. Pigs can be kept inside or outside the house, so if you decide to keep your pig outside the house make sure that it has a dog kennel which has warm blankets and water to keep your pet comfortable. Pigs can also be trained to walk around in a leash so it becomes all the more convenient to keep a pig as a pet. They are exactly like dogs and they make wonderful pets. All you need to do is love them whether they are small or huge. Pigs can be called the perfect pets as Winston Churchill once said “I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down upon us. Pigs treat us as equals.”