Most people know the story of the three pigs and their search for homes strong enough to keep them safe from harm. For pigs who arrive into our care from a difficult situation, their journey to the perfect home is often a little more complex. It involves many different people and a lot of patience, skill, and compassion. These intelligent, sensitive, and social animals suffer deeply in poor conditions, but with proper care and knowledge their lives can be transformed, and their hearts healed.
This is the story of three (large) pigs, and their different paths to finding a safe place to call home.
From a house of straw…
Henry, Vincent, and Ernest were brought into care by the BC SPCA Animal Protection team after living in rough conditions. All three were underweight and under-socialized. They didn’t trust the humans caring for them, and each had their own way of showing their struggles. Henry showed signs of aggression when he was uncomfortable with his surroundings. Vincent chose to cuddle with his pig siblings for protection. And Ernest needed all the help he could get.
“Ernest was the weakest of the three when he arrived,” says Tobias, who works at the barn. “He was very underweight and had mobility issues, so we kept him in a separate stall and started him on a specific care and feeding plan.”
Staff began working closely with them to rebuild their strength and confidence. While all three pigs required specialized support, it quickly became clear that their needs and care plans would look a little different.
Healing side by side: Henry and Vincent
Henry and Vincent spent their time at the barn together, and their bond played an important role in their recovery. Henry’s reactivity slowly turned into curiosity as he began to feel safe. Finally, that energy transformed into friendliness, and he was wagging his tail in no time! Vincent was warier and chose to follow Henry around the field for comfort. They both loved mealtimes and it was during these moments that Vincent’s bossy personality began to show. He always wanted to try to beat Henry over to the food! The team saw this confidence as a positive step forward.
With regular meals, space to explore, and time to feel safe, both pigs began to gain weight and strength. “They loved foraging and rooting around in the field,” says Tobias. “Once they were on a proper diet, you could really see the difference in their health and behaviour.”
Because of their bond, staff felt that Henry and Vincent would do best kept together and once they were strong enough, they began the thoughtful search for them as a pair. We are happy to report that today, they’re settled into their forever home, where they share their days with alpaca companions and other barn friends.
A quieter recovery for Ernest
Ernest’s journey took a different path. When he came into our care, he was lethargic and shivering. He displayed soreness when attempting to get up or down, and despite being the most emaciated of the three pigs, he was not showing much interest in food. It was clear that he needed more hands-on support. Staff hand-fed this skinny boy and closely monitored his meals and water intake. They put him on antibiotics to treat an uncomfortable infection and installed a heat lamp to keep him warm.
Slowly Ernest began to regain his appetite and started displaying more interest in his surroundings, although he never ventured out of his stall. “We watched him go from needing help with everything, to walking, eating and drinking on his own,” says Tobias. A big win!
For Ernest, the best next step was not to look for a traditional forever home. Instead, his care team decided that he would do best in the specialized care of a local sanctuary. A place where he could receive the extra support he needs and lots of attention.
Since arriving at his home, he’s slowly learning to trust the new crew and even looks forward to their company! He has his own stall with plenty of room to move freely, a space to build the confidence to venture out to make new animal friends on the farm.
“He is now able to come out of his stall and explore the front of the barn. The front doors on the barn are open during the day, with the hopes that one of these days Ernest takes the next step, outside!” shared Erin who works at the sanctuary. “He has come a long way in a short amount of time. We believe this is because of the work the SPCA staff put in gaining his trust. After his transfer he quickly understood he was home, for life, and has settled really nicely. We have three other pigs who live in the barn and we are slowly starting introductions.”
A forever home of bricks for all three pigs
At its heart, the familiar story of the three little pigs is really about finding a home that holds. With bricks of care, commitment and compassion, Henry, Vincent, and Ernest now have a promising new beginning where they can thrive.