It's springtime in piggy paradise. Such a lovely shade of pollen out there!  Achoo!

Fortunately the pigs don't care about pollen. They’re too busy lounging in the sun, exploring the new growth in the woods, chewing on sticks, and rooting around for insects. Those tails are just a-waggin', and our hearts are full. 

So, what's going on in oinkville? Glad you asked! Here's the latest. 

Major Winchester the rooster came to us from Greenville, NC, where he was found wandering around a neighborhood inside city limits with no particular place to go. A few residents weren’t thrilled with his loud crowing and called animal control. Fortunately for Winchester, a nice couple scooped him up to safety and brought him here to the sanctuary before he was captured. Now safe, he spends his days with his rooster buddies Herman and Harvey frolicking around, exploring, and having a ball! He’s a beautiful bird, and we are thrilled to provide him a forever home.

Thanks to our handyman extraordinaire Randy Mapes, we now have a new quarantine space. Having a dedicated space to contain newly rescued animals is a must-have for any sanctuary. A separate area allows caretakers to give animals the proper vetting and attention they need while preparing for integration.

Our new quarantine space couldn’t have been timelier. As soon as Randy nailed the last post in the ground, we got a call about Ricky the “wild boar” running loose in Orange County. We were able to take him in immediately – safe in his own area, along with a heated house – while he acclimated to his new environment and got to know some of the other pigs through the fence. By the time we moved him over, he already felt right at home. 
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Thank you again, Randy, for always making sure our pigs and roosters live a life of luxury here at JAFAS!

We are thrilled that our local supply store Piedmont Feed and Garden Center chose our little sanctuary to sponsor during the entire month of March. They set up donation stations throughout the store, and we even had a meet n' greet on Saturday, March 25th to talk to folks about the animals and share information about our mission. We cannot thank Jake, Lilly, and the rest of the staff enough for supporting us and helping us spread the news about JAFAS!

Did you know our pigs are famous? They are! Why else would the mascot of a professional hockey team want to come out for a photo shoot?
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Stormy, the “ice hog” mascot for Raleigh-based Carolina Hurricanes, made a trip out to JAFAS one muddy afternoon in February to offer some lovely ValenSWINE’s Day gifts for the pigs. He said he wasn’t into picking favorites, but by the looks of it, we think he found his new love – Petey! So adorable! GO CANES! 

What an oinkin' fastastic spring semester! We love college students, and it just so happens that college students love pigs. A definite win win! 

Our buddies from UNC Vegans for Peace continue to volunteer every couple of weeks. Regular visits let the students to get to know the animals on a personal level and form deep connections. It’s such a joy to witness. Several students from this program have since graduated and moved on in their journeys but continue to keep in touch and visit when they’re in town. We love our Tar Heel piggy aficionados!

The UNC School of Journalism is amazing! We’ve had a total of four students choose our sanctuary as the focus of their journalism projects over the years, including two feature story writing assignments and two amazing photo journalism projects. We love their enthusiasm for understanding why we need a pig rescue in the first place, focusing on our overall mission here at JAFAS and the problems that come from breeding (there is no such thing as a teacup pig!). This semester, our buddy Mason is writing a feature story about Petey and the plight of farm pigs in commercial hog farming. 

One of our UNC Vegans for Peace volunteers (we’re looking at you, Aleigha!) decided to use JAFAS as the subject of her capstone project for her leadership class in the UNC Department of Education and specifically the NC Fellows program. Her goal is to feature JAFAS's advocacy for animal rights through events, volunteer programs, and community partnerships.  

​Want to show off your support for our rescued sweethearts? We have lots of cool swag from our friends at 4Imprint, and they are yours for the taking.
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We are in the process of adding purchase options for these items to our website, but if you just can’t wait to get your hands on this coolness, email us at jennaandfriendanimalsanctuary@gmail.com. Be sure to include which item(s) you would like (including size and color, if applicable), and we’ll get back to you with more instructions. If you’re local and want to avoid shipping costs, we can arrange a day/time for pickup or delivery.

​Here’s what we have in stock at the moment.

This year, we rescued Martin, Tabitha, Gregory, and Bella! The sights and sounds that these four sweethearts bring to our little microsanctuary is so heartwarming. We have four more shining faces to greet us every morning, four new oinking and squealing sounds to add to the usual cacophony of sanctuary noises (especially at feeding time), and above all, four new beautiful souls that will never have to worry about food and shelter ever again. They are now part of a loving herd that they can call their forever family.

When Deeksha Mittal from Hooray Foods approached us about using Petey’s face and rescue story on some of their marketing collateral, we didn’t have to think twice. We are thrilled to help them get the word out about the plight of farm pigs who suffer so miserably in the hog industry. We can choose not to support the suffering by switching to cruelty-free (and delicious!) alternatives like Hooray Foods plant-based bacon. 

The only problem we have now is that all this fame and fortune has gone straight to Petey’s head. He’s such a demanding boy! ​

We are truly grateful for all the love and support we've received throughout 2022. It would literally take us all day to thank every person who's touch our lives this year. Whether you've come out to visit, donated to one of our fundraisers, sent us an email, or responded to one of our social media posts, we appreciate you! Please know that it brightens our day whenever we're able to share our little slice of heaven.

A special thank you to these folks and organizations! 

• Kerry Thompson for all her hard work on our website, including the new sponsorship pages. 
• Neshama Animal Rescue for scooping up little Gregory from the Wake County Animal Shelter and bringing him to his forever home at JAFAS. Also thank you for paying for his neuter and vaccines!
• Vivian and Tina at J and J Produce in Eli Whitney for the hundreds of apples, potatoes, and sweet potatoes gathered for the pigs.
• James Davis and Devon Lally for all the personal training sessions to help us stay strong and fit for running the sanctuary.
• Tri-county Veterinary Clinic for providing vaccines and performing neuters.
• Dr. Shannon Swink from Hoof and Horn for coming out regularly to give vaccines, administer hoof and tusk trims, and remove unsightly growths (looking at you, Miss Tabitha!). 
• Piedmont Feed and Garden Center for supplying us with pig and chicken food, straw, and pumpkins!
• Jennifer Hadley for coming out and taking some amazing photos of the pigs.
• Weaver Street Market in Southern Village for the ongoing produce donations. 
• Vicious Fishes for supporting community non-profits like JAFAS.
• Christ United Methodist Church for helping us keep our spiritual sanity when things get crazy. 
• Ian and Jess Ostrowski for taking in Bonnie the hen and giving her a safe new home. 
• Sara and Gordon Gress for always being there to help with various projects and feeding when we need a little extra help.
• Brad and Tracy Redfoot for giving the piggies produce from their beautiful garden.
• Walk & Wag for taking care of all the animals when we have to leave town.

So glad you asked! You can:

• Donate through a Facebook fundraiser or directly through our Donorbox fundraising page. 
• Support JAFAS in your Facebook birthday fundraiser. 
• ​Give through a corporate giving program like Benevity (usually companies will match a certain percentage of donations).
• Volunteer your time on a Saturday morning to scoop poop and socialize with the pigs.
• Share the sanctuary with your friends and family.

Stories about farm pigs falling off trucks and ending up injured on the side of the road are nothing new. Just ask Sisu Refuge in eastern North Carolina. We also see situations about pigs running loose and confused after their factorm farms are flooded from natural disasters like hurricanes. Even though hog farmers are mainly concerned about the economical impact of these events, those of us who care about the animals and the environment are utterly mortified as we watch videos of drowned pigs floating in lagoons of hog waste spilling out into nearby lakes and streams, dumping bacteria and contamination into our fragile ecosystem. ​

Meet our new rescue Tabitha! Her story is heartbreaking, but don't worry, it has a happy ending. Actually, it's not an ending at all - it's a new beginning! 

The initial email I received about Tabitha wasn't too unlike all the other emails I receive about pigs needing homes. I get a few of those every week. I sure wish I could rescue them all, but alas...

But this email had a sense of urgency and desperation that I couldn't ignore. It was from a nice woman named Geretia who had watched her neighbors move out of their rental home, leaving their pet potbelly pig behind. 

​Geretia had assumed that the renters had made arrangements for someone to feed and water Tabitha until they could come back to get her, but to her horror, they NEVER CAME BACK.

And NO ONE WAS FEEDING OR WATERING HER. Geretia discovered this one day when she was inside her home and suddenly saw water shooting up from the ground outside her window. Out of sheer desperation, poor Tabitha had busted through her pen, made her way over to Geretia's home, dug up her water line, and busted it wide open! Can you imagine how desperate she must have been for water? I'm not sure about you, but I would say that was one dehydrated pig!

Here is a glimpse of Tabitha's pen behind the rental property. Why in the world did the people throw old furniture and coolers in there with her? I guess they were OK with Tabitha living in their little trash dump.  

It didn't take long for Geretia to realize the severity of the situation. She immediately made contact with the rental property owners to see what they could do, but they had no intention of helping poor Tabitha. They just wanted that "filthy pig" out from behind the house so they could rent it out again. Geretia even called animal control to see if they could find her a better situation. Unfortunately they weren't able to help either. Now desperate for help, Geretia started contacting animal rescues. 

The day of the rescue was quite eventful. Our buddy Randy stepped up to help (as usual), and we started making our way to Cameron, NC with a large dog crate loaded in the back of his SUV. We honestly had no idea what to expect. 

When we arrived in Cameron, Geretia greeted us and pointed the way to Tabitha. With the help of Geretia's relative, we guided Tabitha into the dog crate and loaded her into the back of Randy's car. Poor Tabitha looked so sad and defeated that she didn't even try to stop us. Maybe she knew she was leaving that awful place. And maybe she sensed our kindness. I'd like to think so!

Once Tabitha was all loaded, we started on the hour-long trek back home. Tabitha seemed exhausted and slept most of the way. She had no strength to fight or complain. 

After we got her back and unloaded her into a pen, we were able to inspect her skin condition a little more easily. She had two growths that were very concerning - one on her butt area and the other on her back. The growth on her back was particularly bad. It was a golf ball-sized mass covered in flies, decayed skin, blood, and puss. To make it even worse, we found out later that it was full of maggots! It must have been incredibly painful for sweet Tabitha. First to be abandoned by your so-called family, and then to have to deal with this horrific mass growing out of her back. 

We called Dr. Shannon Swink from Hoof and Horn, and she immediately fit us into her schedule. She examined the growths on Tabitha and decided she needed to remove them ASAP. Dr. Swink and her assistants sedated sweet Tabitha, removed the growths, and packaged them up to send to the lab for biopsy. We've since gotten the results back, and we are thrilled to say that the growths are benign melanomas. No cancer! Woot! And as of now, the two areas are healing just fine. 

So now begins Tabitha's journey of freedom. She will live out her life here at Jenna and Friends surrounded by a loving herd, a comfy bed of straw, healthy food, mud puddles, and fresh water. She won't ever have to be afraid, hungry, thirsty, or lonely EVER AGAIN. 

Please continue to pray for sweet Tabitha as she continues to adjust to her new life. We don't know the level of trauma she's dealt with and how it will affect her in the coming months. We will do everything we can to make her feel loved and cared for. 

By the way, if you ever meet a kind lady named Geretia from Cameron, NC, please give her a hug from all of us. She never gave up on finding a better situation for Tabitha. She saved her life, and we are forever grateful. 

Still on the subject of finances, it helps to have a dedicated small business account to manage your sanctuary money and keep it separate from your personal accounts. You can tie this business account to your website donation form and social media fundraisers so everything sanctuary-related is all together in one place. Having a separate bank account just makes things so much easier to manage and track your expenses and donations. Oh, and while you’re at it, you might as well set up a separate email account as well. ​

​Janice
​Janice came to us from Clayton, where she was in a confined area with dogs who had started attacking her. When she arrived, those little ears were all ripped and bloody, but now they've completely healed and are just as perky as ever. We discovered by accident that she sits for treats! We love Miss Janice!

For the first time in two years, we are happy to annouce that we didn't lose any pigs this year. What a relief! Reporting a death is one of the saddest parts of this animal rescue business, and we are so grateful that we didn't have to deliver that sad news this year. We're praying that we can say the same thing this time next year. 

Now let's talk about our second favorite subject (behind the animals, of course) - you! We couldn't do what we do without our wonderful supporters, and we are forever grateful. You are helping us give these beautiful souls a life of luxury - a life that they truly deserve - on THEIR terms. And for that, you should be proud. You ARE making a difference, trust me!

We've had several successful Facebook fundraisers this year, raising approximately $6703. We have more pig and rooster residents than ever before in our 6.5 years in the rescue business, so it only makes sense that we have more expenses than ever. I just can't stress how much we depend on these fundraisers. We literally could not continue to rescue and care for our sanctuary residents without your support. Every penny of donations goes directly to the animals, and that is the honest truth. And because we are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, donations are always tax deductible!

We also partnered with Cuddly this year to raise funds for the animals. We'd like to give a huge shout-out to Sydney for helping us organize and promote those fundraisers to spread the word about our mission and financial needs. We've been totally humbled by the support we've received from all over the country from total strangers. We truly believe that people are innately compassionate and want to help, and that makes us happy. 

Now for a huge shout-out to all our amazing volunteers and visitors! UNC Vegans for Peace - we're looking directly at you when we say THANK YOU! We have so many "repeat offenders" to the sanctuary from that wonderful group, and we are thrilled. We truly believe that "pig therapy" is a real thing, and we always encourage folks to come out and experience it for themselves. Spending time with the animals has a way of cleansing the soul and filling our hearts with joy. Our lives are forever changed by their innocence and beauty, and if you haven't experienced it for yourself, let's set up a visit! 

Here's just a couple of photos of some of the wonderful families who took time to come out and visit the animals this year. We have so many photos, it's hard to choose!​

​Now let me recap all the great improvements we've made this year. I just get giddy when I think about all the awesome things we've accomplished! Bear with us - the list is LONG!

New drainage system
​We used to have quite an annoying drainage issue in the pig area. We're already on low ground, but what makes matters even worse is that water runoff from neighboring properties make a beeline for the pig barn. Sometimes the water was so deep that the pigs had trouble moving through it. Thanks to your donations, we were able to hire a landscaping company to dig out trenches and add piping to direct the water around the barn and into a neighboring creek. Now, instead of a mess of mud and runoff, we have a nice stream of running water for the pigs to wade in and explore. 

Feeding station
​Our new feeding station is a game changer! No more bending over to fill up bowls, standing in the mud, getting rained on, and dragging food back and forth from the barn. Our feeding station has made feeding time so much more efficient! We went from having a single wooden platform on the ground with no cover to....drum roll, please....this! Woot!!

And finally, let me give a shout-out to some folks and organizations who have played a key role in our success this year!

Julia Green - you are a fantastic writing coach, and with your help, I feel like I am so better equipped to write my children's book about the animals. You've taught me so much over the months, and I can't wait to see where this book leads me!

Dr. Shannon Swink - thank you for being such an awesome and caring veterinarian for the animals. I can always trust your advice, and you're always so compassionate. Thank you!

​Piedmont Feed Store - thank you for all the hundreds of times you've helped me load feed and supplies in my car! Your store is such a gem in White Cross!

Randy Mapes - Randy has been a game changer for us! There's absolutely nothing he can't do! Randy is responsible for a lot of our new improvements this year, including the water platform, the outhouse, and our new quarantine space. He was also instrumental in our rescue of Randie Lou (named after Randy) and Penny Lane (named after Randy's wife). We thank you from the bottom of our hooves, Randy!

Sylvia Leaver - Sylvia is an amazing artist, and lucky for us, she loves painting pictures of our pigs! We will be featuring Sylvia's artwork in our upcoming children's book, and we are truly honored!

James Davis - Thanks to my personal trainer James for keeping me motivated to stay strong and healthy, just like a farm girl should be! 

​Christ United Methodist Church - our "second" sanctuary! What a wonderful, supportive group of folks who aren't scared to add a pig or two to their weekly prayer list. Thank you!

Margaret's Cantina - thank you for all the food donations to the animals! You can't blame the pigs for loving all that homemade Tex-Mex food!

Sara Gress - our wonderful neighbor and "on call" caretaker. You've been a lifesaver when we needed help, and we appreciate you so much! 

Lanza's Cafe in Carrboro - if you ever try to write a children's book and need some inspiration, this is the place to be! Thank you Christina, Catherine, and all the wonderful staff for making me yummy lattes, serving me awesome food, and letting me camp out and write! 

When folks come out to visit the sanctuary, inevitably some of the first questions I hear are "where do you get your pigs?" and "how do pigs end up needing to be rescued?" These are honest questions. Most people can easily give you a list of reasons why cats and dogs end up in shelters and rescue organizations. But pigs? How do they end up in these situations, anyway? 

Here are some typical reasons I've encountered why potbellied pigs end up with no home. 

People are duped by breeders and false advertising. 
​Teacup "micro" pigs don't exist, and any breeder who tells you otherwise is just lying to make a sale. We've all seen memes and videos on social media with adorable little pigs running around someone's apartment with a pink bow around their necks, snuggling up with the puppy in a cozy blanket. Those pigs are NOT teacup pigs. They're BABY pigs. And those baby pigs will grow up to be big pigs. Unfortunately, by the time some pig owners realize the truth, they are totally desperate to surrender their pig. And finding a home is not easy, trust me. 

For the record, a typical adult potbellied pig weighs anywhere from 80 to 180 pounds, sometimes even more. Just look at Bobby, a six-year-old adult male potbellied pig. He weighs approximately 160 pounds. ​​He's a big boy, and he definitely doesn't belong (or want to be) in an apartment.

No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Pigs need to be outdoors, and they need a fairly large roaming area in the woods where they can do what they do instinctively.  

Pigs can act out when they're lonely.
Another reason pigs can show undesirable or destructive behavior is boredom and loneliness. Just like people, pigs can get depressed when they lack meaningful relationships. Pigs are very intelligent, social animals with strong emotions. They form deep bonds with each other and thrive when they belong to a herd of pigs with a fully established social hierarchy. To be happy, pigs need companionship. Pigs should always live with other pigs. 

Here's a typical scene of pigs enjoying each other's company here at Jenna and Friends.​

People get pigs without having a stable living condition.
I hear it all the time. "My landlord won't let me keep my pig anymore." "We're moving, and our new place isn't set up for pigs." "My pig is getting too big for my apartment." I understand that circumstances can change unexpectedly, but so many of these situations can be avoided if people who are considering getting a pig can just spend time planning ahead and thinking about their living situation and how it might change. Pigs can live just as long as dogs, so you need to commit to at least 15 or 16 years. 

People get pigs without having the required resources and funding.
Resources include the obvious things like food, straw, money for vet bills, and fencing, but they also include bigger things like transportation for sick pigs. How will you transport your pig to a vet in case of an emergency? Have you established a relationship with a mobile vet who can come out for vaccines and hoof trims? These are all important aspects to owning a potbellied pig. 

Here is a typical pig enclosure that I have for newcomer pigs as they get to know other pigs through the fencing. Notice the sturdy house with metal roof, wire panels for fencing, and gates with chains. Also notice that the space is in a natural woods environment where they can root around in the dirt and feel the sunshine on their backs.  

And here is that same little house with our latest rescues Randie Lou and Penny Lane relaxing inside. Notice the fresh straw and heat lamp for cold nights.​​

Take it from me. There's no shortage of pigs needing to be rescued. The calls and emails just keep coming. If you're considering getting a potbellied pig, please do your research, make a commitment, and please don't ever - under ANY circumstances - support a breeder. Instead, reach out to a respectable rescue organization and find out where you can find your new best friend. Make sure you have a stable environment with proper housing and fencing. Also make sure you're prepared for vet bills, including vaccines and hoof trims every two or three years. And if you can rescue two pigs, you are truly setting them up for happiness. ​

Chances are, if you're reading a blog post from an animal sanctuary, you just love a good rags-to-riches story. Well, I've got one for you, so settle in and let me tell you all about what went down this past weekend.

First, a little background...

A few weeks ago, I got an email about two sibling female pigs living in a bad situation in Jackson Springs, NC, about an hour and a half away from the sanctuary. I wasn't shocked. I mean, seriously, I've heard it all. But this struck me a little differently. These two pigs (one named "Pork" and the other one named "Chop") were enclosed in a dark pen in the back of a shed, living in urine-soaked mud. They had no access to sunlight, and their health was deteriorating at only three years of age. If we wanted them to survive, we had to do something. 

The more I thought about these two pigs, the more my heart went out to them. And when I saw their photo, I knew the situation was critical. 

Early Saturday morning, Randy and I rented a U-haul trailer and filled it with two large crates, a ramp, and bags of treats. With coffee in hand and nervous butterflies in our guts, we started our journey to Jackson Springs, not knowing exactly what to expect when we reached our destination. We passed the time by making small talk and pointing out all the beautiful scenery we passed along the way. 

When we finally arrived, we were greeted by the current owners and taken to the shed behind the house. And once we were directed to the pig pen, the reality of the situation hit us. This was the first picture I snapped. 

The enclosure was dark and filthy, and it smelled horrible. Both pigs were very lethargic and scared. They had no fresh water to drink. And to make matters worse, I could already see the health problems caused by the excess weight. The larger pig was suffering from that awful fat blindness I mentioned earlier, and her breathing was raspy and labored. The smaller pig had a leg injury, and both pigs were suffering with skin problems, most likely from lying in their own urine. Pig skin is not supposed to be red and puffy like that. Honestly, they just looked completely hopeless.

The next step was to round up the girls and get them into crates so we could load them into the trailer. If you've ever witnesses a pig rescue, this part is NOT fun. The pigs are terrified. They have no idea who you are and what you're trying to do. They squeal and groan. It's incredibly traumatic for everyone involved. We were finally able to round them up, and thanks to Randy's ingenious idea to add more support to the crates, we were able to safely drag them through the sand over to the trailer intact, push them up a shaky ramp, and load them in.

​Here's Randy taking a breather after getting the girls loaded... ​

As expected, the drive home was stressful. The weather was a little hotter than we anticipated, so we had to stop several times to air out the trailer and give the girls water to drink. They were absolutely terrified. 

When we finally got home, we used a harness to walk each pig to their new pen. With the leg injury and the weight issues, this was not an easy task. Both of them were exhausted and collapsed on the ground to rest several times on the way, but we finally guided each girl into the pen.

We sighed with relief, knowing we had gotten these pigs home to safety. They were surrounded by the beautiful woods with their own house full of fresh straw and a heat lamp. They could finally feel a gentle breeze and the warmth of the sunshine. And the ground was now the forest floor, not urine-soaked mud. 

So what's next? Well, as with all new rescues, they will need to be vetted to see just what we're dealing with healthwise. I'll also need to put them on a plan to lose weight. And of course, I'll have to work on gaining their trust. They've already starting meeting the other pigs through the fence, and I will monitor things to see if and when they might be able to join the herd in the next several weeks. Their weight is my main concern at this point, so I'm just taking it one day at a time. 

​See what I mean about the fat folds covering the eyes? This is just heartbreaking!​

Oh, their new names? Randie Lou and Penny Lane! Randie Lou (the larger pig) is named after the man who made this whole rescue possible - Randy Mapes! And Penny Lane is named after his lovely wife Penny. I can't think of two more compassionate people to name them after. 

I also have to thank all of you wonderful supporters. So many of you have already reached out to check on the girls, and I appreciate your concern more than you know. My promise to you is that I will do everything in my power to give these girls the best life possible so that they'll forget the hell they just came from. Thank you for your prayers! And stay tuned to our social media channels for updates and links to fundraisers!​