DO NOT ADOPT until spayed or neutered!
When you rescue or save a pig, you make a promise to do everything in your ability to provide lifelong welfare, whether in your hands or transferred to an adoptive home. Rescued pigs should always be spayed or neutered before adoption. This procedure is the one of the most important aspects in ensuring the pig lives a happy, healthy, long life. The evidence is clear. All pet pigs should be spayed or neutered. There is no question about that. The concern is when a rescue considers letting the adoptive home handle the spay or neuter. Unfortunately, this situation leaves the pig vulnerable. No matter how much you trust the adopter, as a rescuer you owe it to the pig to put his health and safety first. If the adopter is dedicated they will wait until the surgery is done.
All rescue organizations registered with the American Mini Pig Association agree to spay and neuter ALL pigs before adoption unless there is a valid medical reason preventing the surgery. See the Rescue Code of Ethics here.
There are several reasons why a promise to spay or neuter may fail. In this case, it’s the pig that suffers. Even with a spay or neuter contract, it is impossible to enforce once the pig has left your hands. Adopters with the best of intentions have had a change of heart after adoption. They planned to spay the pig, as promised, but then they heard a horror story of a spay gone wrong. They decide spay is not in the best interest of their pig. In other cases a divorce in the family affected their financial ability to afford the spay. In shame or embarrassment, they don’t mention this to the rescue. On occasion an adopter will plan on spaying or neutering the pig. Once they have brought their new addition home, they realize their veterinarian will not do the procedure, or the procedure is far more expensive than they anticipated. For whatever reason, they do not prioritize this life saving surgery and the pig suffers. The worst possible scenario for the pig is the adopters that intend to breed. These con artists or frauds are very convincing during the application and screening process. They have all the right answers and appear very passionate about the animals. Unfortunately, screening is not infallible. If these so called rescue-breeders get their hands on an intact pig, they will breed without regard to health of the sow or piglets, without regard to their lifetime care, without regard to their welfare. They will use and abuse the pig out of pure selfishness that precious pig you rescued.
The pigs cannot speak for themselves. We are their voice. Do not let them down. Don’t depend on a contract. Simply spay and neuter ALL pigs upon intake, before they are available for adoption.
Failure to spay or neuter leads to an assortment of problems both physically and behaviorally. See Intact Pig Problems (LINK) for more information on the importance of spaying or neutering.