2003 - The Harriman Herd

Harriman, TN

In the late spring we received a call from a young woman who had a pair of pigs, and to no surprise, a litter of piglets. She didn't know what to do with them and needed help. After talking with her we found that she had acreage and a "barn" and suggested that we could spay and neuter them all for her for a start. She was very happy to have us do so, and she carried them for appointments to our clinic 70 miles away. The pigs seemed to be healthy and happy when I would encounter them there at the clinic.  When all had been altered except for her big boar we quit for the summer as the heat would be too much for him. I would plan to haul him in the fall when it cooled down. So in late October I drove over to pick up Harry and found a nightmare.  These pigs were all being kept in a small pen with nothing but mud.  The barn was a roof only.. no sides or bedding. Of course, I spoke sharply to the girl about their condition and she was shocked to find that she had not been caring for them properly.  She believed they were fine in that little pen.  She petted them, gave them treats, and they couldn't tell her anything different except by breaking out.

We immediately had panels and posts delivered, and she and her husband set about fixing a proper size area with shade and forage. I delivered a sow hutch for temporary housing and shelter.

Unfortunately she and her family later decided that they didn't want the pigs after all and we found out through the grapevine that she had them advertised to give away. We immediately sent in one of our people to take them. She kept Harry the boar and the spayed senior female.

Repeated attempts to reach her to get Harry neutered failed and we can only hope they are doing well. At least we know they have a pasture and a good house.

  The "pen" they lived in.. a mire of mud that they got out of by walking on the pallets

  (Right) The pigs explore their new territory and home.. the first time they have ever seen grass, been able to run or have a dry shelter over their heads