Infamous five: A dog, a cat, and three micro-pigs form an unusual friendship in one UK home

By Daily Mail Reporter

Go on, give us a cuddle: Daisy the dog nuzzles up on the couch to micro pig Nimrod


In a friendship that would make animation film producers sit up and take notice, a cat, a dog and three micro-pigs have formed a firm bond for real in one UK home.

Micro-pigs Pip-squeak, Serge and Manuka share their home with Daisy the dog, and house cat Hector - the quintet eat, sleep and play together.

Animal lover Jane Croft, the owner of the adorable gang in Christchurch, Cambridgeshire, says her little companions have loads of fun together. On occasion, their numbers are boosted by Jane allowing a couple of her other charges to roam in her home.


Milking it: Hector the house cat and micro pig Manuka (tan colour) allow, from left, Nimrod, Serge and Frenchie a slurp of liquid refreshment


'They can't stop playing with each other,' said 42-year-old Jane who breeds and sells micro pigs at Little Pig Farm. 'They may be a handful at times but when it comes to feeding its like a well oiled machine... or maybe a military operation.'

Costing between £550 and £1200, micro pigs are so small they can even fit inside a jacket and love cuddling up inside to keep warm, Jane says.


OK, so where do I sleep? Daisy the dog makes room for (standing) Chinook and (from left) Nimrod, Frenchie, Biscuit and Serge


Fancy a walk? Manuka the micro pig and Hector use the cat flap to get out in the sunshine


Contrary to the popular myth about pigs, the intelligent animals like to keep exceptionally clean and love company.

'We have over 90 pigs here at the farm but Pip-squeak, Serge and Manuka are my own pets,' said Jane.

'They are such a great pet to have around. they are really very loving. They come over for a cuddle regularly. And the breed is very intelligent. You can watch them work out simple tasks around the house.'

They make such good pets their popularity is booming worldwide - even Harry Potter actor Rupert Grint, who plays Ron Weasley, visited Jane's farm to buy two micro-pigs for his sisters.

Originally stemming from Vietnamese pot bellied pigs, micro-pigs, also known as miniature pigs and teacup pigs, have been selectively bred for their small sizes.


source: dailymail

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How the little piggy who couldn't walk was saved from the chop

By Mail Foreign Service

This little piggy... The mother pig rubs noses with her newborn who was born unable to walk


He was definitely the runt of the litter.

Crippled from birth, the little piglet squealed in frustration as he tried - and failed - to keep up with his agile brothers and sisters.

The farmer who tended to the herd was about to put the animal out of his misery but decided at the last moment to spare him.

Miraculously, within weeks, the piglet had made a complete recovery and was able to rejoin the rest of the litter.


Runt: The piglet falls on its back legs as its siblings learn to stand


Amanda Kopp, whose in-laws own the farm, witnessed the remarkable turnaround.

She described how the piglet's mother refused to give up on her newborn, tenderly rubbing her nose against his and nudging him to try again.

Every time the piglet's hind legs gave way and he collapsed to the ground she encouraged him to try again - at one stage even picking him up in her mouth and placing him on his feet.

Mrs Kopp, 25, said: ‘It was very emotional for me to see the little pig struggle because he just kept trying so hard and he was squealing in frustration


Feeding time: But the piglet is unable to walk to its mother for food


‘The mother pig seemed very aware of the situation and was grunting very loudly, almost as if she were telling him, “Get up, you can do it”.

‘She was nudging him with her nose, and even picked him up gently in her mouth to move him, anything she could do to get him to move around.’

Mrs Kopp said the farmer was planning to put the animal down as it was struggling to fight its way past its 19 siblings to the food that was put out for them.
But instead he let a group of local youngsters tend to it.

She said: ‘On a whim he decided to let a few of the kids take care of the piglet.

‘They learned how to feed him by hand and the little crippled piglet grew strong and his legs healed.

‘Incredibly, he was soon able to run and play just like his brothers and sisters.’

The farm in Swaziland, Africa, provides a self-sustainable home for young orphaned children and helps them with their education.

Mrs Kopp, from Denver, Colorado, USA, added: ‘It was a beautiful experience for the children who have faced such tragedies in their lives


source: dailymail

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