I Want A Pig
March 25, 2008 by DM
“I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down. Pigs treat us as equals.” Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill had a love for pigs in later life. I’ve heard 2 accounts of him and his love for them…when he wanted to unwind he would go out and talk to his pig, and feed him apples….he’d also took his grandson out to see his pig, and made the above mentioned quote.
We’re thinking about getting a pig (or two)…for several reasons. There are several things about pigs you probably don’t know unless you’ve been around them. They are highly intelligent. They are NOT messy creatures…when you hear about pigs and mud..what they’re doing is trying to stay cool…they don’t sweat so in the Summer heat, they will try to find a water hole. They are social creatures (that’s why I”d get two instead of just one…so they could keep each other company) They make great pets. I had one when I was growing up..they love to have you scratch them behind their ears. They are not naturally smelly…they just start smelling if you don’t clean out their living quarters. We have a couple of spots on the farm that I don’t mow. I’m thinking the pigs can spend their summer under the trees, keeping down the weeds…it’s a win-win situation. My wife suggested this morning if we do get a pig, one of them needs to be named “Winston”.
My brother Steve had a pig a few years ago, let him just grow..see how big he’d get. Normally, you take the pig to market when he get’s 220 pounds…well, Steve’s pig got up to over 900 pounds :-)..started having knee problems..wonder why?.
Anyway, if you do come to see us this Summer, there is a very good chance you will get to meet Winston….Ah, one of the joys of living in the Country….coming up with a weird idea and then being able to act on it.
I would like to say,
~~Here’s Churchill’s take on a political rival who was a vegetarian, a socialist, and a tee-totaller to boot:
“There but for the grace of God goes God.”
Here’s how he described a tough-talking American secretary of state:
“He is the only bull I know who carries his china closet with him.” You could say that about Dick Cheney.
Here’s another:
“Dogs look up at you, cats look down on you. Give me a pig! He looks you in the eye and treats you as an equal.”~~
I was looking up to see if ole winston was a vegetarian, and found this.
~~umm, are you gonna keep the pigs until the day they dies or are ya gonna make them breakfast?
Kristina
Pigs are the newest “hot” bet - just think of how cool you will be! My husband laughed at me when we first met - I had never seen a cow “in person” other than at a petting zoo or something. I wanted to go see one. So he arranged for me to go feed the new calves. It was great fun. I’ve never seen a pig up close and personal either (hint).
Pigs are great. While my husband grew up on a farm, our family had it’s first experience w/ a pair last year. They are much like dogs. Unfailingly loyal and love to play. Once you have spent enough time w/ them, they will follow you to the ends of the earth.
We had two pigs last year, Uno and Dos, and will have three this year as one of them sustained a spinal injury and an untimely death, due to rough play between him and his brother. For the remainder of his stay in our pigpen, he was quite depsondent. The kids (and my 6′4″ father-in-law) spent much time with him, lifting his spirits.
When the temp has been in the 90’s- 100’s for over a week, they do smell. Bad. However, it’s very organic and when its that warm, it’s not typically the pig smell getting to you!! ;o)
A pig named Winston would be the perfect addition to our farm. Much less work than the puppy I’d REALLY like.
What I really need are some bats to eat all the flies…
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