Iggy the pot-bellied piggy makes unexpected delivery

Iggy the piggy had a tail-curling secret.

The pot-bellied pig was "very overweight" when she arrived at the Windsor-EssexCounty Humane Society, according to director Melanie Coulter, but staff had no way of knowing what she was hiding.

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The big-bellied animal wasn't spayed when she was placed in a new home, but Coulter said the only other pig on the property was neutered so everyone was fairly certain there wouldn't be any surprises until Iggy's new owners walked by her pen one day and made an unexpected discovery.

"After she had been there for a few weeks one morning they found a litter of baby piglets," she said."It was a surprise for all of us."

The humane society arranged to have all of the babies spayed and neutered to prevent any more surprises and sent them to Cedar Row Farm Sanctuary near Stratford for care.

Pot-bellied pigs grow 'really, really large'

So far this summer, the sanctuary said it's already received 18 pot-bellied pigs, promptinga public plea calling for people to stop keeping the animals as pets.

It's a warning Coulter echoes, explaining the difference between a pot-bellied pig and their teacup cousins can be a big one.

"The fact that they're so cute is a problem because people get them and have this mistaken idea they're teacup pigs and are going to stay that tiny," she said. "But they grow really, really large."

Caring for an animal that size takes special skills and experience, according to the humane society. Often people get excited by the idea of a pet pig and buy one before checking if they're even legal where they live.

Pet pigs not permitted in Windsor

Pot-bellied pigs are not permitted in the city of Windsor, but they can be kept in parts of the county, said Coulter.

Before buying an animal, she said prospective owners should make sure they have a vet who can help them care for their new pet and prepare themselves for the kind of care a pig will need.

"There's a lot of homework to do before you bring a potbellied pig home," she said. "People talk about problems trimming their cat's claws, well imagine trimming the hooves of a 100 lb animal."

If someone in Windsor-Essex is ready for a little piggy, Coulter said Cedar Row Farm Sanctuary is still looking to place two of Iggy's piglets. For more information visit their website.