Adoption Phone Call Form

Obviously nothing is 100% guaranteed but have they looked into the expected cost of straw, pellets and daily fresh fruit and veg. Factored in ongoing upkeep costs? Pigs can cause a fair bit of wear and tear to fencing, shelters etc? Do they have funds available for a medical emergency?

Are they looking for loved pets and family members? Are they looking for working pigs? (some people want them for land clearing purposes)

Breed? Size? Temperament? Experience around children? Experience around other animals?

If they don’t have any previous experience, this is not a disqualifying factor but will mean they are best suited to a well-socialised pair of small breeds. Do they have experience with daily care of outdoor companion animals – horses, sheep, goats, chickens etc?

How far from home address is location? How often are they there? What times of day and for how long?

Other adults – will they be involved with pigs/willing to take over care if primary carer unable to? Are there children either living at, or regularly visiting, the property? How involved with the pigs will they be? Are the experienced with animals? Will they be supervised if/when interacting with pigs?

They will root and forage. They will turn of the land and very possibly eliminate all the grass. During winter/prolonged wet weather it will get very muddy.

Also ask about the terrain – flat field, hills, woodland. Explain that rotation between a minimum of two areas is mostly not optional.

Stock fencing, post and rail, electric. Large v small breed, known escape artists – level of confidence in security.

Explain how many people contact us during periods of prolonged wet weather because their pigs are suffering by having to live in a soupy boggy mud pit. As well as rotation, a good sized area of hardstanding is vital for most set ups – it must be big enough for the pigs to basically live on it full time during wet season – even better if it is actually enclosed to keep them off the grass. There may be occasional exceptions – i.e. very well-draining sloped land with sand based substrate (i.e. Full of Joy) but they need to have experience with the land over winter, with animals on it, to be confident.

What type of shelter (ark, wooden field shelter, barn, stable, lean-to). Will they have access to some form of shelter in all areas when the pigs are rotated to a new field?

What species? How close will the be with the pigs? Direct interactions intended? Sharing a fence? Dogs – generally do not recommend direct interactions or always supervised, never fed in the same vicinity. Horses – bit of a myth they can never happily live around pigs but may take a few days to get used to them.

Answer this if they have more than one other pig. What are their sex, breed, size, age, neuter status? What are the pair/group dynamics of the current pigs and how do the foresee any pig/s they adopt fitting in to their current set up?

Ensure they have provided all basic info on initial form (sex, breed, size, age, neuter status). Discuss further their pig’s temperament, activities, personality etc. lot’s of detail to help find the best match. Have they lived with another pig previously? Were they dominant or submissive?

See Introductions page on website

If they already have pigs – do they vaccinate? If not, how do they feel about contacting their vet to discuss? If they don’t already have pigs – are they willing to vaccinate any they may adopt? Can they contact their vet to discuss possibility and cost (expect to pay yearly)

If they already have pigs, do they worm them regularly? If not are they willing to start? If they don’t already have pigs and they willing and confident to make this a regular part of their pigs’ care? Do they do it for any other animals they may have?

Explain – the vast majority of female pigs in the UK are not spayed. Almost no vets do it and it is very expensive. Many male pigs kept as companion animals are already neutered but occasionally we are asked to rehome intact males. Would they consider having males neutered after arrival? If so, suggest contacting vet to discuss possibility.