I had a Pot-Bellied Pig called Percy as a pet for 3 Years. He had a wooden house at the bottom of the garden and a fenced in area to run around in while we were at work. As soon as my car came down the drive each night he would hear it and come running out of his house, we then took him indoors with us. It was just like having a dog he would sit at our feet when we were watching telly and would nudge you occasionally for a scratch or cuddle. If the weather was bad he would sleep in the cupboard under the stairs, otherwise he would push his nose against the patio door and use it as a sucker so he could slide the door back and go down the garden to bed. It is a misconception that pigs are dirty, they will always go to the loo as far away from their bed as possible. It only took 3 days to house train him. Beware pigs can open freezers and cupboards! Do not give pigs chocolate as it can put them in toxic shock, Percy got out of his cupboard once when were out and ate a box of chocolates he was poorly for a couple of days after, I believe chocolate can actually kill pigs. Always keep their trotters trimmed as they can go lame if you neglect to do so. Protect pigs skin from the sun, use sunscreen on hot days. Pigs suffer from bad skin it helps to bath them in Oil Latium. Percy liked tea but would only drink it if it had sugar. It is rewarding to own a pig but it is also hard work, it's not like a dog that you can leave with friends when you go away you have to arrange a babysitter!. You cannot leave food out for a pig for a couple of days while you go away for the weekend as pigs will eat it all in one go. I am not sure about the law nowadays but when I had Percy you had to apply to the Ministry of Agriculture every time you needed to move the pig from your house, this included a visit to the vets. If you want to take them for walks you need to submit the route you will take to the Ministry, they will check that it does not go across any agricultural ground and will then issue you with a licence that permits you pig to that particular route. You need to carry the licence with you as a policeman can request to see it on the spot. These pigs can live for 15-30 years and become very large, Percy was twenty stone. If your pig needs treatment, please be aware that they do not get on very well with anesthetic because of their short noses and airways. Percy was castrated under anesthetic and was perfectly okay, but when he was given treatment 18 months later unfortunately died from a heart attack brought on from his body not being able to break down the sedation he was given. There are not a lot of books around to help you care for your pig, my local pet shop managed to order me one by Lisa Hall Huckaby published by T.F.H Publications in the US it is called Pot-Bellied pigs and other miniature pet pigs.
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