why would you change your entire life for a pig that’s something that we get
for a pig that’s something that we get
for a pig that’s something that we get asked all the time I was a professional
asked all the time I was a professional
asked all the time I was a professional magician so I went to work pulling
magician so I went to work pulling
magician so I went to work pulling rabbits out of hats and Steve he was a
rabbits out of hats and Steve he was a
rabbits out of hats and Steve he was a real estate agent but with the click of
real estate agent but with the click of
real estate agent but with the click of a mouse everything and I mean everything
a mouse everything and I mean everything
a mouse everything and I mean everything changed one day when Steve got a message
changed one day when Steve got a message
changed one day when Steve got a message on Facebook asking if he wanted a mini
on Facebook asking if he wanted a mini
on Facebook asking if he wanted a mini pig I always considered myself an animal
pig I always considered myself an animal
pig I always considered myself an animal lover I’ve been drawn to them since I
lover I’ve been drawn to them since I
lover I’ve been drawn to them since I was a little boy so I’m sure most of our
was a little boy so I’m sure most of our
was a little boy so I’m sure most of our friends weren’t surprised when I came
friends weren’t surprised when I came
friends weren’t surprised when I came home unannounced with a mini Pig but
home unannounced with a mini Pig but
home unannounced with a mini Pig but Derrick was furious and it took him a
Derrick was furious and it took him a
Derrick was furious and it took him a few weeks to even warm up to the idea of
few weeks to even warm up to the idea of
few weeks to even warm up to the idea of keeping her see we knew nothing about
keeping her see we knew nothing about
keeping her see we knew nothing about pigs
pigs
pigs when Esther first arrived but during
when Esther first arrived but during
when Esther first arrived but during those first few weeks we saw an
those first few weeks we saw an
those first few weeks we saw an incredible personality developing I
incredible personality developing I
incredible personality developing I think both of us were really shocked at
think both of us were really shocked at
think both of us were really shocked at how similar she was to a puppy but one
how similar she was to a puppy but one
how similar she was to a puppy but one thing in particular really stuck out to
thing in particular really stuck out to
thing in particular really stuck out to us and that’s just how smart she was
us and that’s just how smart she was
us and that’s just how smart she was within a few days of arriving she found
within a few days of arriving she found
within a few days of arriving she found one of the dogs treat balls see they had
one of the dogs treat balls see they had
one of the dogs treat balls see they had them for years and they played with them
them for years and they played with them
them for years and they played with them all the time but they’d roll it around
all the time but they’d roll it around
all the time but they’d roll it around and then get it stuck somewhere or get
and then get it stuck somewhere or get
and then get it stuck somewhere or get bored and just give up with it Esther
bored and just give up with it Esther
bored and just give up with it Esther however she’d take that treat ball and
however she’d take that treat ball and
however she’d take that treat ball and go in a straight line from one end of
go in a straight line from one end of
go in a straight line from one end of the room to the other until it was empty
the room to the other until it was empty
the room to the other until it was empty it was amazing she was super curious too
it was amazing she was super curious too
it was amazing she was super curious too she loved to explore the house she had
she loved to explore the house she had
she loved to explore the house she had to check out anything that was new or
to check out anything that was new or
to check out anything that was new or out of place so anytime a guest came
out of place so anytime a guest came
out of place so anytime a guest came over and left their purse or coat Within
over and left their purse or coat Within
over and left their purse or coat Within Reach
Reach
Reach fair game as far as Esther was concerned
fair game as far as Esther was concerned
fair game as far as Esther was concerned and the more interested she was the more
and the more interested she was the more
and the more interested she was the more money I’d be willing to wager that there
money I’d be willing to wager that there
money I’d be willing to wager that there was chapstick or a pack of gum in one of
was chapstick or a pack of gum in one of
was chapstick or a pack of gum in one of the pockets I resisted at first I even
the pockets I resisted at first I even
the pockets I resisted at first I even refused to give her a name I called her
refused to give her a name I called her
refused to give her a name I called her Kijiji after that online auction site I
Kijiji after that online auction site I
Kijiji after that online auction site I had intended to list her for sale on
had intended to list her for sale on
had intended to list her for sale on only half-joking but it wasn’t long
only half-joking but it wasn’t long
only half-joking but it wasn’t long before and I was falling for her too I
before and I was falling for her too I
before and I was falling for her too I remember practicing magic in the living
remember practicing magic in the living
remember practicing magic in the living room one day as I often would and Esther
room one day as I often would and Esther
room one day as I often would and Esther took an interest into what I was doing
took an interest into what I was doing
took an interest into what I was doing so I went and got a cookie and I
so I went and got a cookie and I
so I went and got a cookie and I made it disappear I did it all the time
made it disappear I did it all the time
made it disappear I did it all the time for the dogs and they would wag their
for the dogs and they would wag their
for the dogs and they would wag their tails and they would bark like crazy I
tails and they would bark like crazy I
tails and they would bark like crazy I wish I had a video camera for the moment
wish I had a video camera for the moment
wish I had a video camera for the moment when the cookie disappeared because you
when the cookie disappeared because you
when the cookie disappeared because you could literally see the amazement wonder
could literally see the amazement wonder
could literally see the amazement wonder in her eyes I did the trick one more
in her eyes I did the trick one more
in her eyes I did the trick one more time anticipating the same hilarious
time anticipating the same hilarious
time anticipating the same hilarious result yet this time Esther was sniffing
result yet this time Esther was sniffing
result yet this time Esther was sniffing around behind me you see she knew where
around behind me you see she knew where
around behind me you see she knew where the cookie was this time the dogs could
the cookie was this time the dogs could
the cookie was this time the dogs could be fooled over and over and over again
be fooled over and over and over again
be fooled over and over and over again but not Esther the term Pigpen also came
but not Esther the term Pigpen also came
but not Esther the term Pigpen also came to mind when I first met her because I
to mind when I first met her because I
to mind when I first met her because I thought she was going to be a stinking
thought she was going to be a stinking
thought she was going to be a stinking smelly mess all the time but she was
smelly mess all the time but she was
smelly mess all the time but she was surprisingly clean she had a pen with
surprisingly clean she had a pen with
surprisingly clean she had a pen with her bed in her litter box which she
her bed in her litter box which she
her bed in her litter box which she almost always kept clean now I’m not
almost always kept clean now I’m not
almost always kept clean now I’m not going to pretend that she maintained a
going to pretend that she maintained a
going to pretend that she maintained a 100% perfect party record but teaching
100% perfect party record but teaching
100% perfect party record but teaching her to use the litter box that was not
her to use the litter box that was not
her to use the litter box that was not the problem she got along really well
the problem she got along really well
the problem she got along really well with our other animal friends too and it
with our other animal friends too and it
with our other animal friends too and it was amazing to see her try to fit in
was amazing to see her try to fit in
was amazing to see her try to fit in that pack all that she wanted to do was
that pack all that she wanted to do was
that pack all that she wanted to do was just follow them around it was pretty
just follow them around it was pretty
just follow them around it was pretty cute one concerning fact that remained
cute one concerning fact that remained
cute one concerning fact that remained however was that we lived in a part of
however was that we lived in a part of
however was that we lived in a part of town that wasn’t zoned to allow many
town that wasn’t zoned to allow many
town that wasn’t zoned to allow many pigs so we had to keep her quiet from
pigs so we had to keep her quiet from
pigs so we had to keep her quiet from the neighbors and we found a vet out of
the neighbors and we found a vet out of
the neighbors and we found a vet out of town that would see her and we thought
town that would see her and we thought
town that would see her and we thought we were all in the clear until the vet
we were all in the clear until the vet
we were all in the clear until the vet dropped a bombshell I went alone to that
dropped a bombshell I went alone to that
dropped a bombshell I went alone to that first appointment and it was probably a
first appointment and it was probably a
first appointment and it was probably a good thing because among the first words
good thing because among the first words
good thing because among the first words out of his mouth were mini pig a I’m
out of his mouth were mini pig a I’m
out of his mouth were mini pig a I’m afraid you’ve got a commercial pig on
afraid you’ve got a commercial pig on
afraid you’ve got a commercial pig on your hands here Steve I nearly died how
your hands here Steve I nearly died how
your hands here Steve I nearly died how could something so small so cute and so
could something so small so cute and so
could something so small so cute and so smart be the same thing I ate for
smart be the same thing I ate for
smart be the same thing I ate for breakfast two days earlier it turns out
breakfast two days earlier it turns out
breakfast two days earlier it turns out her cropped tail was a clear indication
her cropped tail was a clear indication
her cropped tail was a clear indication to any knowledgeable person it’s common
to any knowledgeable person it’s common
to any knowledgeable person it’s common practice on commercial farms to cut off
practice on commercial farms to cut off
practice on commercial farms to cut off their tails it’s often done without pain
their tails it’s often done without pain
their tails it’s often done without pain medication using nothing more than
medication using nothing more than
medication using nothing more than basically a pair of pliers it was my
basically a pair of pliers it was my
basically a pair of pliers it was my first introduction to what life could
first introduction to what life could
first introduction to what life could have been like for Esther and it was
have been like for Esther and it was
have been like for Esther and it was upsetting to say the least and keep in
upsetting to say the least and keep in
upsetting to say the least and keep in mind at this point we hadn’t even
mind at this point we hadn’t even
mind at this point we hadn’t even discussed the fact that she would be at
discussed the fact that she would be at
discussed the fact that she would be at least 250 pounds best-case scenario
least 250 pounds best-case scenario
least 250 pounds best-case scenario that’s substantially larger than the 70
that’s substantially larger than the 70
that’s substantially larger than the 70 pounds I’d been led to believe by the
pounds I’d been led to believe by the
pounds I’d been led to believe by the girl I got her from when Steve
girl I got her from when Steve
girl I got her from when Steve came home he totally downplayed the
came home he totally downplayed the
came home he totally downplayed the information that he shared with me when
information that he shared with me when
information that he shared with me when he started with well I knew I should
he started with well I knew I should
he started with well I knew I should have probably sat down it turns out
have probably sat down it turns out
have probably sat down it turns out she’s going to be a little bit bigger
she’s going to be a little bit bigger
she’s going to be a little bit bigger than we thought he said maybe 200 to 250
than we thought he said maybe 200 to 250
than we thought he said maybe 200 to 250 pounds okay that’s not so bad and it
pounds okay that’s not so bad and it
pounds okay that’s not so bad and it turns out she’s not a mini Pig she’s a
turns out she’s not a mini Pig she’s a
turns out she’s not a mini Pig she’s a commercial Pig a million things were
commercial Pig a million things were
commercial Pig a million things were going through my mind in that moment
going through my mind in that moment
going through my mind in that moment most of them were swear words and I
most of them were swear words and I
most of them were swear words and I Steve immediately tried to reassure me
Steve immediately tried to reassure me
Steve immediately tried to reassure me that everything was going to be okay but
that everything was going to be okay but
that everything was going to be okay but it was not okay we had just come to
it was not okay we had just come to
it was not okay we had just come to terms with the fact that we were going
terms with the fact that we were going
terms with the fact that we were going to keep her and this was a huge setback
to keep her and this was a huge setback
to keep her and this was a huge setback literally we did some soul-searching but
literally we did some soul-searching but
literally we did some soul-searching but after a few days animals have a way of
after a few days animals have a way of
after a few days animals have a way of stealing your heart and even though we
stealing your heart and even though we
stealing your heart and even though we had only known Esther for a few weeks we
had only known Esther for a few weeks we
had only known Esther for a few weeks we both couldn’t stand the thought of
both couldn’t stand the thought of
both couldn’t stand the thought of giving up on her we carried on for
giving up on her we carried on for
giving up on her we carried on for months with nothing more than a hope
months with nothing more than a hope
months with nothing more than a hope that she wouldn’t get as big as we knew
that she wouldn’t get as big as we knew
that she wouldn’t get as big as we knew she could but every time somebody came
she could but every time somebody came
she could but every time somebody came over it was the same thing oh my god
over it was the same thing oh my god
over it was the same thing oh my god she’s huge how big is she gonna get what
she’s huge how big is she gonna get what
she’s huge how big is she gonna get what are you guys going to do with her it was
are you guys going to do with her it was
are you guys going to do with her it was all the same things that we were
all the same things that we were
all the same things that we were wondering ourselves and that’s actually
wondering ourselves and that’s actually
wondering ourselves and that’s actually why we call her Esther the Wonder Pig so
why we call her Esther the Wonder Pig so
why we call her Esther the Wonder Pig so aside from her astonishing rate of
aside from her astonishing rate of
aside from her astonishing rate of growth which was almost a pound a day at
growth which was almost a pound a day at
growth which was almost a pound a day at its quickest her intelligence was
its quickest her intelligence was
its quickest her intelligence was becoming increasingly apparent our
becoming increasingly apparent our
becoming increasingly apparent our freezer was below the fridge we had to
freezer was below the fridge we had to
freezer was below the fridge we had to keep it closed with box tape we
keep it closed with box tape we
keep it closed with box tape we childproof locks on all of our cupboards
childproof locks on all of our cupboards
childproof locks on all of our cupboards but they were no match for Esther by the
but they were no match for Esther by the
but they were no match for Esther by the time she was eight or nine months old
time she was eight or nine months old
time she was eight or nine months old she could open every single door in our
she could open every single door in our
she could open every single door in our house she’d use her snout to operate
house she’d use her snout to operate
house she’d use her snout to operate lever style door handles even giving her
lever style door handles even giving her
lever style door handles even giving her medication became a battle of wits
medication became a battle of wits
medication became a battle of wits because no matter how well we thought we
because no matter how well we thought we
because no matter how well we thought we hid those pills she would find and
hid those pills she would find and
hid those pills she would find and reject them sometimes she’d even make us
reject them sometimes she’d even make us
reject them sometimes she’d even make us think she swallowed them only to spit
think she swallowed them only to spit
think she swallowed them only to spit out a pill after I gave her a cookie for
out a pill after I gave her a cookie for
out a pill after I gave her a cookie for taking them
taking them
taking them she was like a little Houdini too she
she was like a little Houdini too she
she was like a little Houdini too she could read our minds and she was always
could read our minds and she was always
could read our minds and she was always one step ahead of us one of the most
one step ahead of us one of the most
one step ahead of us one of the most amazing displays of thoughtfulness that
amazing displays of thoughtfulness that
amazing displays of thoughtfulness that I ever witnessed from Esther is when she
I ever witnessed from Esther is when she
I ever witnessed from Esther is when she concocted a whole plan to steal food
concocted a whole plan to steal food
concocted a whole plan to steal food from the cupboards typically she would
from the cupboards typically she would
from the cupboards typically she would open the cupboard and steal whatever she
open the cupboard and steal whatever she
open the cupboard and steal whatever she wanted as quickly as she could and she
wanted as quickly as she could and she
wanted as quickly as she could and she realized that that would get her into
realized that that would get her into
realized that that would get her into trouble so she started opening the
trouble so she started opening the
trouble so she started opening the cupboard really quietly when nobody was
cupboard really quietly when nobody was
cupboard really quietly when nobody was watching
watching
watching she’d circle around to the living room
she’d circle around to the living room
she’d circle around to the living room to see what we were up to and then she’d
to see what we were up to and then she’d
to see what we were up to and then she’d returned back to the kitchen and pull
returned back to the kitchen and pull
returned back to the kitchen and pull out the basket of food she was wanting
out the basket of food she was wanting
out the basket of food she was wanting then she’d go back into the living room
then she’d go back into the living room
then she’d go back into the living room for one last check on us before
for one last check on us before
for one last check on us before returning to the kitchen to steal her
returning to the kitchen to steal her
returning to the kitchen to steal her prize haul ass down to the bedroom so
prize haul ass down to the bedroom so
prize haul ass down to the bedroom so she could eat it she had literally
she could eat it she had literally
she could eat it she had literally broken that down in two steps being as
broken that down in two steps being as
broken that down in two steps being as quiet as possible to avoid detection she
quiet as possible to avoid detection she
quiet as possible to avoid detection she was a little devil and as annoying as
was a little devil and as annoying as
was a little devil and as annoying as that was there was no denying that there
that was there was no denying that there
that was there was no denying that there was something special going on in that
was something special going on in that
was something special going on in that big head of hers it felt like we were
big head of hers it felt like we were
big head of hers it felt like we were battling with a two-year-old sometimes
battling with a two-year-old sometimes
battling with a two-year-old sometimes and in many ways we were scientists have
and in many ways we were scientists have
and in many ways we were scientists have proven that pigs can be as smart as
proven that pigs can be as smart as
proven that pigs can be as smart as human toddlers they excel at video games
human toddlers they excel at video games
human toddlers they excel at video games using their snout to operate the
using their snout to operate the
using their snout to operate the joysticks and they’re among only a
joysticks and they’re among only a
joysticks and they’re among only a handful of animals that have been shown
handful of animals that have been shown
handful of animals that have been shown to recognize themselves in mirrors pigs
to recognize themselves in mirrors pigs
to recognize themselves in mirrors pigs are astonishingly intelligent so it was
are astonishingly intelligent so it was
are astonishingly intelligent so it was incredible for us to watch her grow up
incredible for us to watch her grow up
incredible for us to watch her grow up and experience the world around her we
and experience the world around her we
and experience the world around her we definitely had our fair share of laughs
definitely had our fair share of laughs
definitely had our fair share of laughs but I’d be lying if I didn’t say we had
but I’d be lying if I didn’t say we had
but I’d be lying if I didn’t say we had our fair share of headaches there were
our fair share of headaches there were
our fair share of headaches there were thousands of dollars in torn beds and
thousands of dollars in torn beds and
thousands of dollars in torn beds and bedding
bedding
bedding she even shattered an iPad once when I
she even shattered an iPad once when I
she even shattered an iPad once when I left it on the couch and she decided she
left it on the couch and she decided she
left it on the couch and she decided she wanted a nap we had to watch her at all
wanted a nap we had to watch her at all
wanted a nap we had to watch her at all times and it was taking a toll on both
times and it was taking a toll on both
times and it was taking a toll on both of us we had toilet training issues too
of us we had toilet training issues too
of us we had toilet training issues too when she got too big for any practical
when she got too big for any practical
when she got too big for any practical litter box to handle a kiddie pool at
litter box to handle a kiddie pool at
litter box to handle a kiddie pool at its biggest we had to start telling her
its biggest we had to start telling her
its biggest we had to start telling her to go outside and you’d think that would
to go outside and you’d think that would
to go outside and you’d think that would be hard enough to undo months of toilet
be hard enough to undo months of toilet
be hard enough to undo months of toilet training not when you’re dealing with an
training not when you’re dealing with an
training not when you’re dealing with an Esther she had to add an entirely
Esther she had to add an entirely
Esther she had to add an entirely different layer of difficulty by fake
different layer of difficulty by fake
different layer of difficulty by fake peeing when we took her out you see we
peeing when we took her out you see we
peeing when we took her out you see we tried to teach her just like you do with
tried to teach her just like you do with
tried to teach her just like you do with the puppy so we take her outside tell
the puppy so we take her outside tell
the puppy so we take her outside tell her to go pee we get really excited and
her to go pee we get really excited and
her to go pee we get really excited and give her a cookie when she did it so
give her a cookie when she did it so
give her a cookie when she did it so when she started asking to go by herself
when she started asking to go by herself
when she started asking to go by herself and more frequently we thought that was
and more frequently we thought that was
and more frequently we thought that was amazing until we realized most of the
amazing until we realized most of the
amazing until we realized most of the time
time
time she wasn’t even peeing she’d go out face
she wasn’t even peeing she’d go out face
she wasn’t even peeing she’d go out face us and squat for a few seconds then come
us and squat for a few seconds then come
us and squat for a few seconds then come running for her cookie she totally
running for her cookie she totally
running for her cookie she totally played us and we felt like complete
played us and we felt like complete
played us and we felt like complete idiots compared to her sometimes all of
idiots compared to her sometimes all of
idiots compared to her sometimes all of that combined with the fact that she was
that combined with the fact that she was
that combined with the fact that she was getting larger each day having grown
getting larger each day having grown
getting larger each day having grown past 250 pounds before her first
past 250 pounds before her first
past 250 pounds before her first birthday that made for some pretty
birthday that made for some pretty
birthday that made for some pretty trying times and finding a home for a
trying times and finding a home for a
trying times and finding a home for a pig like Esther is next to impossible
pig like Esther is next to impossible
pig like Esther is next to impossible and the thought of just sending her to
and the thought of just sending her to
and the thought of just sending her to some farm or worse market that was
some farm or worse market that was
some farm or worse market that was unthinkable
unthinkable
unthinkable we loved Esther the way we loved our
we loved Esther the way we loved our
we loved Esther the way we loved our dogs and cats she was a part of our
dogs and cats she was a part of our
dogs and cats she was a part of our family and we were going to see it
family and we were going to see it
family and we were going to see it through no matter what we needed to do
through no matter what we needed to do
through no matter what we needed to do aside from adapting our lifestyle to
aside from adapting our lifestyle to
aside from adapting our lifestyle to accommodate Esther in the house we had
accommodate Esther in the house we had
accommodate Esther in the house we had both never really been able to shake the
both never really been able to shake the
both never really been able to shake the fact that she was a commercial Pig
fact that she was a commercial Pig
fact that she was a commercial Pig getting to know Esther made us want to
getting to know Esther made us want to
getting to know Esther made us want to know more about where she came from so
know more about where she came from so
know more about where she came from so we started to do some research into
we started to do some research into
we started to do some research into animal agriculture in general we watched
animal agriculture in general we watched
animal agriculture in general we watched some documentaries and we found some
some documentaries and we found some
some documentaries and we found some pretty startling things like the fact
pretty startling things like the fact
pretty startling things like the fact that animal agriculture is responsible
that animal agriculture is responsible
that animal agriculture is responsible for more greenhouse gases than planes
for more greenhouse gases than planes
for more greenhouse gases than planes trains and automobiles combined and that
trains and automobiles combined and that
trains and automobiles combined and that it’s responsible for species extinction
it’s responsible for species extinction
it’s responsible for species extinction habitat destruction water pollution and
habitat destruction water pollution and
habitat destruction water pollution and ocean dead zones and way too many other
ocean dead zones and way too many other
ocean dead zones and way too many other mind-boggling facts to cover in these
mind-boggling facts to cover in these
mind-boggling facts to cover in these moments that we have today either way
moments that we have today either way
moments that we have today either way we learn more than enough that we didn’t
we learn more than enough that we didn’t
we learn more than enough that we didn’t want to be a part of that anymore so we
want to be a part of that anymore so we
want to be a part of that anymore so we adopted what we called an Esther
adopted what we called an Esther
adopted what we called an Esther approved lifestyle and we gladly stopped
approved lifestyle and we gladly stopped
approved lifestyle and we gladly stopped consuming animal products altogether we
consuming animal products altogether we
consuming animal products altogether we accepted the fact that this was our new
accepted the fact that this was our new
accepted the fact that this was our new normal and we finally come to a place
normal and we finally come to a place
normal and we finally come to a place where we thought we could share what
where we thought we could share what
where we thought we could share what life with a wonder pig was like with our
life with a wonder pig was like with our
life with a wonder pig was like with our more removed friends and family remember
more removed friends and family remember
more removed friends and family remember we lived in a town that was illegal to
we lived in a town that was illegal to
we lived in a town that was illegal to have her so we hid all but kept her off
have her so we hid all but kept her off
have her so we hid all but kept her off of our own personal social media pages
of our own personal social media pages
of our own personal social media pages so we decided we’d start a dedicated
so we decided we’d start a dedicated
so we decided we’d start a dedicated Facebook page just for Esther little did
Facebook page just for Esther little did
Facebook page just for Esther little did we know that Paige would go viral
we know that Paige would go viral
we know that Paige would go viral we started getting messages from people
we started getting messages from people
we started getting messages from people all over the world that were falling in
all over the world that were falling in
all over the world that were falling in love with her and basically retelling us
love with her and basically retelling us
love with her and basically retelling us our own story I had no idea how smart
our own story I had no idea how smart
our own story I had no idea how smart pigs were I don’t think I’ll look at
pigs were I don’t think I’ll look at
pigs were I don’t think I’ll look at them the same way again I’ll never be
them the same way again I’ll never be
them the same way again I’ll never be able to eat bacon
able to eat bacon
able to eat bacon it was incredible they were coming in by
it was incredible they were coming in by
it was incredible they were coming in by the hundreds and the page was still
the hundreds and the page was still
the hundreds and the page was still really new so we were trying to
really new so we were trying to
really new so we were trying to you’re out where we all fit in and
you’re out where we all fit in and
you’re out where we all fit in and decided we take a more vegan approach to
decided we take a more vegan approach to
decided we take a more vegan approach to our messaging it couldn’t have been more
our messaging it couldn’t have been more
our messaging it couldn’t have been more wrong though people started fighting
wrong though people started fighting
wrong though people started fighting because somebody would comment on a post
because somebody would comment on a post
because somebody would comment on a post and say I’m never eating bacon anymore
and say I’m never eating bacon anymore
and say I’m never eating bacon anymore and then the vegan police would jump in
and then the vegan police would jump in
and then the vegan police would jump in and say well what about cows and
and say well what about cows and
and say well what about cows and chickens and you’re hardly an animal
chickens and you’re hardly an animal
chickens and you’re hardly an animal lover if you still eat cows
lover if you still eat cows
lover if you still eat cows it was brutal and it drove us crazy we
it was brutal and it drove us crazy we
it was brutal and it drove us crazy we had seen in the early weeks of Esther’s
had seen in the early weeks of Esther’s
had seen in the early weeks of Esther’s Facebook page that she was having an
Facebook page that she was having an
Facebook page that she was having an effect on folks without any vegan
effect on folks without any vegan
effect on folks without any vegan messaging and we knew that we could have
messaging and we knew that we could have
messaging and we knew that we could have a bigger impact on non vegans so they
a bigger impact on non vegans so they
a bigger impact on non vegans so they became our target audience we realized
became our target audience we realized
became our target audience we realized that creating a relationship between us
that creating a relationship between us
that creating a relationship between us Turner knew friends using cute funny
Turner knew friends using cute funny
Turner knew friends using cute funny photos was almost more always more
photos was almost more always more
photos was almost more always more impactful than telling somebody that you
impactful than telling somebody that you
impactful than telling somebody that you need to change or by showing them
need to change or by showing them
need to change or by showing them horrific images we didn’t change because
horrific images we didn’t change because
horrific images we didn’t change because somebody yelled at us or showed us
somebody yelled at us or showed us
somebody yelled at us or showed us something horrifying we changed because
something horrifying we changed because
something horrifying we changed because we got to know what those products were
we got to know what those products were
we got to know what those products were by literally living with one in our
by literally living with one in our
by literally living with one in our house we didn’t see bacon anymore
house we didn’t see bacon anymore
house we didn’t see bacon anymore we saw Esther and that’s what we wanted
we saw Esther and that’s what we wanted
we saw Esther and that’s what we wanted to replicate on our social media pages
to replicate on our social media pages
to replicate on our social media pages so we dedicated every free moment of our
so we dedicated every free moment of our
so we dedicated every free moment of our time to answering comments questions
time to answering comments questions
time to answering comments questions email x’ and helping people relate with
email x’ and helping people relate with
email x’ and helping people relate with her on a very personal level we were
her on a very personal level we were
her on a very personal level we were putting ourselves out there in a really
putting ourselves out there in a really
putting ourselves out there in a really serious way and we knew it was only a
serious way and we knew it was only a
serious way and we knew it was only a matter of time before the town came
matter of time before the town came
matter of time before the town came knocking Esther was also pushing about
knocking Esther was also pushing about
knocking Esther was also pushing about 500 pounds by this point so social media
500 pounds by this point so social media
500 pounds by this point so social media star naught we knew that we needed to
star naught we knew that we needed to
star naught we knew that we needed to move during one of our low points the
move during one of our low points the
move during one of our low points the previous summer when we weren’t even
previous summer when we weren’t even
previous summer when we weren’t even sure if we were going to be able to do
sure if we were going to be able to do
sure if we were going to be able to do this in keep Esther we’d found out that
this in keep Esther we’d found out that
this in keep Esther we’d found out that there were places called farm
there were places called farm
there were places called farm sanctuaries that rescue abused and
sanctuaries that rescue abused and
sanctuaries that rescue abused and abandoned farm animals but most of these
abandoned farm animals but most of these
abandoned farm animals but most of these places are struggling for funding and
places are struggling for funding and
places are struggling for funding and volunteers or they’re overflowing with
volunteers or they’re overflowing with
volunteers or they’re overflowing with animals so we started to think well what
animals so we started to think well what
animals so we started to think well what if we opened our own Farm Sanctuary we
if we opened our own Farm Sanctuary we
if we opened our own Farm Sanctuary we had all these people watching us now and
had all these people watching us now and
had all these people watching us now and expressing an interest and Esther and
expressing an interest and Esther and
expressing an interest and Esther and what we were doing so why not just buy a
what we were doing so why not just buy a
what we were doing so why not just buy a farm well to be honest we couldn’t
farm well to be honest we couldn’t
farm well to be honest we couldn’t afford it we lived in one of the most
afford it we lived in one of the most
afford it we lived in one of the most expensive real estate markets in Canada
expensive real estate markets in Canada
expensive real estate markets in Canada and we also had jobs to consider so we
and we also had jobs to consider so we
and we also had jobs to consider so we couldn’t just pack up and move north to
couldn’t just pack up and move north to
couldn’t just pack up and move north to become farmers so we started a
become farmers so we started a
become farmers so we started a crowdfunding campaign with an incredibly
crowdfunding campaign with an incredibly
crowdfunding campaign with an incredibly ambitious target somehow we did it we
ambitious target somehow we did it we
ambitious target somehow we did it we hit our goal and we were able to buy a
hit our goal and we were able to buy a
hit our goal and we were able to buy a farm in Campbell Ville Ontario and
farm in Campbell Ville Ontario and
farm in Campbell Ville Ontario and established happily Everafter farm
established happily Everafter farm
established happily Everafter farm sanctuary a few months later when Esther
sanctuary a few months later when Esther
sanctuary a few months later when Esther arrived at her sanctuary for the first
arrived at her sanctuary for the first
arrived at her sanctuary for the first time she was nervous but as soon as she
time she was nervous but as soon as she
time she was nervous but as soon as she saw the dogs she walked straight off she
saw the dogs she walked straight off she
saw the dogs she walked straight off she got so much joy just from being able to
got so much joy just from being able to
got so much joy just from being able to go wherever she wanted to go and do what
go wherever she wanted to go and do what
go wherever she wanted to go and do what she wanted to do and we got to see her
she wanted to do and we got to see her
she wanted to do and we got to see her run full-out for the first time that
run full-out for the first time that
run full-out for the first time that rate there to be honest is the most
rate there to be honest is the most
rate there to be honest is the most special moment for me getting to see her
special moment for me getting to see her
special moment for me getting to see her run like that and that’s something that
run like that and that’s something that
run like that and that’s something that she never would have had the opportunity
she never would have had the opportunity
she never would have had the opportunity to as if she was raised on an
to as if she was raised on an
to as if she was raised on an industrialized farm since then managing
industrialized farm since then managing
industrialized farm since then managing Esther social media following and her
Esther social media following and her
Esther social media following and her sanctuary has become a full-time job for
sanctuary has become a full-time job for
sanctuary has become a full-time job for the both of us but why why would we
the both of us but why why would we
the both of us but why why would we allow that to happen it’s because Esther
allow that to happen it’s because Esther
allow that to happen it’s because Esther elevated pigs to a position that we had
elevated pigs to a position that we had
elevated pigs to a position that we had previously only held for our companion
previously only held for our companion
previously only held for our companion animals Esther is smart she’s funny and
animals Esther is smart she’s funny and
animals Esther is smart she’s funny and she’s kind she’s all of those things but
she’s kind she’s all of those things but
she’s kind she’s all of those things but so is every pig and that’s the problem
so is every pig and that’s the problem
so is every pig and that’s the problem while Esther was swimming in her pool or
while Esther was swimming in her pool or
while Esther was swimming in her pool or playing with the dogs or taking a nap in
playing with the dogs or taking a nap in
playing with the dogs or taking a nap in the house her litter mates were locked
the house her litter mates were locked
the house her litter mates were locked in dark barns on concrete floors without
in dark barns on concrete floors without
in dark barns on concrete floors without access to the outdoors or sunshine or
access to the outdoors or sunshine or
access to the outdoors or sunshine or anything to do they would have been
anything to do they would have been
anything to do they would have been taken away at about eight months of age
taken away at about eight months of age
taken away at about eight months of age for processing but not the unlucky
for processing but not the unlucky
for processing but not the unlucky females Esther’s sisters maybe even
females Esther’s sisters maybe even
females Esther’s sisters maybe even Esther herself could have been turned
Esther herself could have been turned
Esther herself could have been turned into a breeding sow
into a breeding sow
into a breeding sow forced to produce litter after litter of
forced to produce litter after litter of
forced to produce litter after litter of piglets confined to a small metal cage
piglets confined to a small metal cage
piglets confined to a small metal cage not larger than her body the cage is
not larger than her body the cage is
not larger than her body the cage is about six feet by two and a half feet
about six feet by two and a half feet
about six feet by two and a half feet wide so small that all she could do is
wide so small that all she could do is
wide so small that all she could do is stand or sit down the only love that her
stand or sit down the only love that her
stand or sit down the only love that her piglets would know from her is when she
piglets would know from her is when she
piglets would know from her is when she sang to them when she when they nursed
sang to them when she when they nursed
sang to them when she when they nursed yes pigs do sing to their young just
yes pigs do sing to their young just
yes pigs do sing to their young just like humans do their time together would
like humans do their time together would
like humans do their time together would be short-lived though because at about
be short-lived though because at about
be short-lived though because at about three or four weeks of age the piglets
three or four weeks of age the piglets
three or four weeks of age the piglets would be removed from mother so that mom
would be removed from mother so that mom
would be removed from mother so that mom could be reignited again starting that
could be reignited again starting that
could be reignited again starting that whole vicious process again she would
whole vicious process again she would
whole vicious process again she would literally be driven into madness from a
literally be driven into madness from a
literally be driven into madness from a lack of activity and depression I think
lack of activity and depression I think
lack of activity and depression I think about Esther’s birth family all the time
about Esther’s birth family all the time
about Esther’s birth family all the time I remember our trip from our old house
I remember our trip from our old house
I remember our trip from our old house to the sanctuary and we were with Esther
to the sanctuary and we were with Esther
to the sanctuary and we were with Esther the entire time in that trailer but she
the entire time in that trailer but she
the entire time in that trailer but she was
was
was so scared and so nervous no matter what
so scared and so nervous no matter what
so scared and so nervous no matter what we did to try to comfort her I couldn’t
we did to try to comfort her I couldn’t
we did to try to comfort her I couldn’t help but think if wonder if that was the
help but think if wonder if that was the
help but think if wonder if that was the day that maybe her sister was taking a
day that maybe her sister was taking a
day that maybe her sister was taking a ride in the trailer too he said she was
ride in the trailer too he said she was
ride in the trailer too he said she was about two and a half when we moved it’s
about two and a half when we moved it’s
about two and a half when we moved it’s pretty consistent with the life
pretty consistent with the life
pretty consistent with the life expectancy of a breeding sound
expectancy of a breeding sound
expectancy of a breeding sound commercial operations so my mind
commercial operations so my mind
commercial operations so my mind wandered and I fixated on that and I
wandered and I fixated on that and I
wandered and I fixated on that and I started to imagine what her day would
started to imagine what her day would
started to imagine what her day would have looked like she would have been
have looked like she would have been
have looked like she would have been loaded into a trailer with up to 200
loaded into a trailer with up to 200
loaded into a trailer with up to 200 others scared and confused pigs where
others scared and confused pigs where
others scared and confused pigs where they could legally spend up to 36 hours
they could legally spend up to 36 hours
they could legally spend up to 36 hours on the road without food or water in any
on the road without food or water in any
on the road without food or water in any type of weather it would probably be the
type of weather it would probably be the
type of weather it would probably be the only time any of them ever felt Sun on
only time any of them ever felt Sun on
only time any of them ever felt Sun on their skin either upon arrival at the
their skin either upon arrival at the
their skin either upon arrival at the slaughterhouse they would be put into
slaughterhouse they would be put into
slaughterhouse they would be put into cages using electric prods and lowered
cages using electric prods and lowered
cages using electric prods and lowered into gas chambers where they’d be
into gas chambers where they’d be
into gas chambers where they’d be humanely stunned prior to slaughter the
humanely stunned prior to slaughter the
humanely stunned prior to slaughter the agriculture industry wants you to think
agriculture industry wants you to think
agriculture industry wants you to think that they don’t feel a thing but they
that they don’t feel a thing but they
that they don’t feel a thing but they literally fight for their lives until
literally fight for their lives until
literally fight for their lives until their very last breath that could have
their very last breath that could have
their very last breath that could have been Esther we spent our entire lives
been Esther we spent our entire lives
been Esther we spent our entire lives believing the myths of humane mate and
believing the myths of humane mate and
believing the myths of humane mate and free-range and telling ourselves those
free-range and telling ourselves those
free-range and telling ourselves those crazy videos never happened here that’s
crazy videos never happened here that’s
crazy videos never happened here that’s got to be from another country we’d been
got to be from another country we’d been
got to be from another country we’d been led to believe that farm animals were
led to believe that farm animals were
led to believe that farm animals were stupid that they were mean or that they
stupid that they were mean or that they
stupid that they were mean or that they didn’t feel pain but we were wrong and
didn’t feel pain but we were wrong and
didn’t feel pain but we were wrong and that does happen here it happens
that does happen here it happens
that does happen here it happens everywhere we just spend our entire
everywhere we just spend our entire
everywhere we just spend our entire lives trying to ignore it and looking
lives trying to ignore it and looking
lives trying to ignore it and looking the other way when one of those trucks
the other way when one of those trucks
the other way when one of those trucks go by on the highway so that’s why we
go by on the highway so that’s why we
go by on the highway so that’s why we dedicate our lives to a pig
dedicate our lives to a pig
dedicate our lives to a pig because Esther made us stop looking the
because Esther made us stop looking the
because Esther made us stop looking the other way and she made us realize that
other way and she made us realize that
other way and she made us realize that we could do better we couldn’t possibly
we could do better we couldn’t possibly
we could do better we couldn’t possibly know what life could have been like for
know what life could have been like for
know what life could have been like for Esther or the impacts that animal
Esther or the impacts that animal
Esther or the impacts that animal agriculture is having to the world
agriculture is having to the world
agriculture is having to the world around us and pretend that we’re okay
around us and pretend that we’re okay
around us and pretend that we’re okay with that when you change the way you
with that when you change the way you
with that when you change the way you look at things the things you look at
look at things the things you look at
look at things the things you look at change and Esther definitely changed the
change and Esther definitely changed the
change and Esther definitely changed the way that we look at things a pig that
way that we look at things a pig that
way that we look at things a pig that was born to be our dinner had become an
was born to be our dinner had become an
was born to be our dinner had become an integral part of our family and when
integral part of our family and when
integral part of our family and when your food has a name a face and a
your food has a name a face and a
your food has a name a face and a personality you’ll never look at it the
personality you’ll never look at it the
personality you’ll never look at it the same way again
”
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