It appears that the most recent celebrity pet fad happens to be tiny domestic pigs. At least in the UK, according to the Dailymail in their article “Tiny porkers with a big price tag: £700 ‘micro-pigs’ are the latest celebrity pet craze.”
Two years later the pigs are fully grown – but still only weigh up to 65lb and stand at around 14in tall.
Unlike popular myth, the pigs are exceedingly clean and enjoy the company of people.The adorable animals, which grow to just 14in tall, are being snapped up by celebrities, including Harry Potter actor Rupert Grint, who plays Ron Weasley.
‘Demand for micro pigs is soaring and we are inundated with inquiries every day,’ says Jane Croft, 42, who has given up her job to breed them full time.
‘It’s amazing how popular they have suddenly become and just how many people want pigs as pets.’
Micro pigs are much smaller than a standard farm pig and weigh 9oz, about the size of a tea cup when they are born.At two years old they are fully grown and weigh in around 40-65lb and are about knee height at 12-16in tall.
They can live for up to 18 years, but make popular pets as they are low maintenance, quiet and surprisingly clean.‘Micro pigs make fantastic pets as they are very low maintenance. You don’t have to take them for walks and they have very few health issues,’ said Miss Croft.
I’ve known at least one person who has lived with a pig himself, a large pot-bellied pig; and one friend who wishes that she could spend a lot more time with them, but doesn’t have a living situation that could house a pig. I myself grew up almost atop a farm and experienced pigs in a more barnyard atmosphere.
The article does cover a lot of the reasons why people might be interested in a micropig breed, it should be noted that “low maintenance” might be a colored expectation. Families and owners getting pigs of all stripes can find themselves at odds with the unexpected needs of their porcine friends, explained by the reports I’ve found lurking online about the abandonment rate. People should not be buying pigs from a breeder (even the claimed reputable one above) without a good deal of research and perhaps a talk with an expert vet on what to expect.
Link, via the Dailymail.