Winona, Minn. - Michelle Schmitz said her potbellied pig, Alaina Templeton, weighed 50 pounds when Schmitz left her with a co-worker who offered to care for the animal in February, when she went on medical leave.

Nine months later, the pig weighed 150 pounds and it took veterinarians 4 1/2 hours to surgically remove the animal's collar. Officers are investigating whether Alaina was abused by the sitter's neglect and overfeeding.

Schmitz, 22, said she bottle-fed Alaina when she was just 11 days old and kept her on a strict diet to keep her weight at about 50 pounds.

When she tried to recover the pig in April, Schmitz said that she didn't know where the woman lived and that when she finally found the woman's farm, she discovered that Alaina's neck had grown around her collar and that the pig had trouble breathing.

The pig now wears bandages and is healing from a pressure wound and neck infection. "That pig is my life," said Schmitz, who has a tattoo of Alaina's name.
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Pigs get fat. Fact of life. They will eat almost anything. As for Schmitz getting a tattoo of the pigs name.........need I say more......lol.....
GET A LIFE!
Or a boyfriend.........

i wouldn't complain if my pig was fat, as long as she can do the dishes who cares, am i in the right thead

Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

pigs are suposed to be fat ! thats what make then cute!

Both of these people sound like people whose better purpose is to take up space. While it's horrible the sitter let the pig become physically attached to his collar (it's really, really, hard not to notice something like that happening to an animal) I'm not sure she purposely got the pig fat. Pot Bellied Pigs get pretty big. Sometimes they're 100lbs and no where NEAR being overweight! They're all different sizes. This woman was trying to maintain this pig's weight at 50lbs, which is sort of light for a PBP.

"A full grown Vietnamese potbellied pig can be anywhere from 100 to 250 pounds and not be overweight, and is still considered a miniature potbellied pig. The average size seems to be 120 to 150 pounds but just like humans, pigs do come in various sizes and weights. With proper feeding and exercise your pig will grow to its predetermined genetic size. You can affect your pet pig's weight through overfeeding, underfeeding, or a lack of exercise (just like us!). This is not a good idea and could cause serious health problems!!

There are many breeders out there that tell people that potbelly pig's will stay small if you do not feed them a lot. In the PBP world they are called back yard breeders. Please, DO NOT FALL FOR THIS SCAM! Underfeeding a pig, or any animal for that matter, will cause serious health problems and deformities. Plus, other breeders may tell you that their pigs are a 'special' line or 'special' breed. Here is a tip for you: ALL pot belly pigs in North America and Hawaii come from the same line. Period!!"

Quoted from: This website about pet piggies!

I looked it up because I thought 50lbs for a PBP was a low number. The pet owner is of the same ilk of people who buy cockapoos or whatever.

The pig's collar definitely should have been checked. Surprised the owner left the pig with a co-worker, but never bothered to find out where she lived...The pig and the owner must have a close relationship being that she had his name tattoed on her..

yep... pigs get fat for a reason.




I do agree that the collar thing was wrong though.

Cute, but we don't eat Vietnamese pot bellied pigs.

She left the pig with the sitter for 9 months for medical leave? Did she ever check on piggy during those nine months? Call? She was as irresponsible as the care taker.

//

ROFLMAO!!!

Does she ever read your threads Chemical?

Both of these people sound horrible. I am a dog groomer who has seen ingrown collars on dogs. Only incredibally stupid people who don't need to take care of animals let something like that happen.

I also think the owner has a few screws loose! 50lbs is super light for a potbelli pig. This woman is delusional and trying to keep her animal down at an unatural and unheathly weight just to benefit herself. I'm sorry, lady, but if you didn't want a gigantic animal, you shouldn't have gotten a pig!

Good point Rogue!

I haven't a clue, to be honest, how much a potbelly piggy weighs, but I did think it odd when she said she was trying to keep it at a certain weight

ingrown collars are horrible. the amount of animals that ive seen with it too just boggles my mind.. the 'best' one was from a guy who tried to dock his dogs tail (brutal barbaric trade which i am glad is now banned) with a lacky band.. when the dog was 3 years old. WHAT THA???? it came in, septic, tail hanging off its backside in so much pain the poor thing. and the trouble is, because he brought the animal in to be 'fixed' he wont get prosecuted.. the RSPCA sucks boys bits as far as i am concerned. i know way to much about that so called authority to know its just a bloody ruse
rant over..

she should have gotten more details of the caretaker of her animal before she let it go.. her fault

Ohhhh, that makes me so mad. I've wanted to call the ASPCA here too many time because people won't take care of their anemic flea/tick covered dogs or they are so boney and dehydrated..but I can't because "atleast they are making an effort"

Such BS!

Are you in the UK or something? Tail docking isn't banned here. My boss shows collies, so atleast she doesn't have to deal with that. I just think it's silly to take away what a dog is born with to fit it to human standards

Holy crap, I almost spit coffee through my nose!



That's what I'm talking about. I haven't had breakfast just yet.




Okay, right!? That's what I was thinking. They are both in the wrong. Not sure what the medical leave was for, but don't you know anyone that could check in on little piggy for you? And, other than letting the collar become embedded in it's neck, how do we know the caretaker is in the wrong??? Pigs eat and get fat. Did the owner specifically tell the caretaker about it's diet? The owner didn't care enough to know where the caretaker even lived or moved to! So, probably, she didn't tell the caretaker about it's diet. It says the caretaker lived on a farm. I'm sure this little piggy was roaming around in heaven (other than the collar, I can't get past the collar!!) just "pigging out" with the other pigs and wallowing in mud....you know...what pigs DO.

aw that's sadistic

I am not sure, but weren't dogs' tails docked at just weeks old? This bloke obviously didn't have a clue and should have had his pets taken away.

whats the lifespan for a potbelly-my cousin has one, it has to be at least 15-20 yrs. old.

50lbs. does sound kind of light, all the *fullgrown pigs ive seen are at least 120-200 pounds

Thinking about it, I wonder how old the pig was when it got left with another minder. If it were not very old at all, it stands to reason that it would put weight on as it grew.....