Tom has only ever known life at the sanctuary because he was born here. His mum is Belle, and Sebastian is his dad. As one of the Friendly Family, Tom was the runt of the litter. He was the smallest little boy, and is the timidest little boy. He is at risk; we could never rehome Tom, even if we wanted to, because we fear that he would be bred to carry on a miniature line. Everyone always leans towards liking Tom because he is the cute looking one and for that reason he will always stay with us. He is the one who will usually regard what is going…

Blossom came from a factory farm, and she was destined to be killed against the thumping wall. She was the runt of the litter, probably trapped the wrong side of mummy in the farrowing crate. She had not suckled properly and was suffering from severe complications due to calcium deficiency. Her hips were deformed and she was covered in abscesses. Blossom arrived when she was just ten days old. The vet arrived within a couple of hours to start her lengthy process of rehabilitation. She needed several surgeries, extensive physiotherapy and unconditional love. Blossom has grown into an athletic, intelligent person, but remains bashful and easily intimidated by the other…

The Friendly Family is made up of Belle and Sebastian (mum and dad), Charles, Tom, Florence, Ingrid and Rose from one litter and Phoebe from a previous litter. They are all incredibly loving and loyal to each other. It is a joy to be in their enclosure. They won’t necessarily come up for attention but they are inquisitive and very peaceful to be around. Mum and Dad are fantastic parents; they look after their children incredibly well and there is a strong sense of family unity. You have our deepest gratitude for choosing to support our sanctuary and helping us to care for our precious residents. Thank you for being…

Teddy is a cross mangalitsa-duroc pig. Teddy is the brother of Little Bean and Bess. He came to us from an organic farm, free-range, so had never been treated for anything at all so when he first arrived he was hideously covered in lice, to the point that touching him they would run up your arm. He was slightly underweight, but very loving. Right from the start, Teddy has been a teddy bear, hence his name. He has grown into a magnificent little man of around 90 kilos. He will be the first person to come if you sit in the garden, he will come and lie on you. He…

Rose is Belle and Sebastian’s daughter and also Phoebe, Charles and the rest of the friendly family herd’s sister. She is incredibly loving and inquisitive. Very gentle, she will be the first to come to see anyone who walks near the enclosure. She is the first to come to see you when you are cleaning there, with the broom or rake, she will come and sniff and wait for a cuddle. Rose is a member of our family of Vietnamese pigs – Belle and Sebastian’s family. We leave them to interact as a normal family, with the least amount of contact and intervention; we just guard them from afar. You…

Bess was born at an organic farm that kept pure bred mangalitsas. The farmer did not want Bess because she and her siblings, Little Bean and Teddy, were cross-bred, so the farmer did not want them near his other stock for fear that they would contaminate the blood line. The farmer’s children were going to keep the piglets as pets but then changed their mind. So Bess and her family arrived to us completely infested with mites. It was pretty horrific. The organic farmer’s ethos was that he did not either treat or feed his pigs. He just let them into the forest to fend for themselves. If they became…

Charles the pig is the biggest child from the litter of Belle and Sebastian. He was born at the sanctuary because we saved Belle when she was pregnant and she had her babies here. Charles is incredibly shy but he is very food orientated, so he is usually left to himself. If he had not found a home here at the sanctuary he would have been a back yard slaughter for the roasting spit. You have our deepest gratitude for choosing to support our sanctuary and helping us to care for our precious residents. Thank you for being one of ‘the best people’!

Little Bean is a cross-breed stripey Hungarian Mangalitsa; she is the sister of Teddy and Bess. The farmer did not want Little Bean and her litter mates, as they were cross-bred, so he did not want him near his other stock for fear that they would contaminate the blood line. The farmer’s children were going to keep the piglets as pets but then changed their mind. Little Bean came to us from an organic farm with four siblings, two of which have now been placed in other loving forever homes. She arrived at the Big V sanctuary with untreated abscesses on one of her rear legs and could hardly walk.…

Phoebe is a young Vietnamese pot-bellied pig and she was bred to be eaten. Happily, we were able to rescue her from a premature death and she is now, as you can see, enjoying her new life in her safe forever home at the sanctuary. She was saved along with her two sisters who were subsequently rehomed and later both her mother and her father were also rescued by Miranda and Jerome. Pigs are very intelligent and also very affectionate creatures when treated kindly. Phoebe loves cuddles and head kisses! Phoebe came from a pen that was two foot thick in mud and faeces; a stagnant pool.  She couldn’t reach…

Belle and Sebastian are a happy and contented couple and the parents of Phoebe and the Friendly Family. They were saved from backyard slaughter after being bred repeatedly at every cycle. Kept in very poor conditions with inches of mud and excreta, Belle’s teats were very sore. Pregnant when she arrived she gave birth to five healthy piglets at the sanctuary. You have our deepest gratitude for choosing to support our sanctuary and helping us to care for our precious residents. Thank you for being one of ‘the best people’!