This is Lori Ann McGinnis owner of Briar the Boar! AKA Baby Banks Husband! Yes, we said that. For those of you who don't know we tied the knot Sept. 26th, 2015! But this story is not about us pigs, it's about the human attached to him. I have some very popular social media, I run a pet safety nonprofit and I teach pet first aid & CPR. So people come to us for many different reasons. Some ask questions and some need help and yes I do hear all the stories of rescues. Breaks my heart like it does many. There are so many topics you could discuss, from what it "really" takes to own a pig, to the myth of the mini, pig training, pig behavior, pig corrective training and behavior. Social media sometimes becomes a dumping ground. I prefer to talk about what is right, instead of what is wrong. I'll start with Briars Mom! I sure hope you aren't mad at me when you see I spilled the beans but your standing in life, on top of your commitment to Briar, shows your responsibility level to your pet pig. Lori is on a very limited fixed income. This funding does not have any prospect of growth. Lori is single and as such has to maintain living situations for her and her pig. I recently witness her situation in having to come up with new accommodations. She never once said, "I have to move so the pig must go." Just wasn't even in her mind or |
her vocabulary. She found temporary shelter for her and for her pig and set out to find a city with the proper zoning, a place with a proper yard, a roommate with the proper pets and stayed away from the perfect location because it had a pool. Her means only allow her to look in a small circle and she still turns down what wouldn't work. To her the only place is a place that can accommodate her and her pig!
I have heard people with far greater ? resources give me excuses like we have to move, we're not zoned, he got to big, he got to mean and the list goes on. And here is someone you might think as far fewer resources and she takes better care of her pig than many... Pigs are a lifetime commitment! That could be 15 - 20 years of your life! They break stuff, eat your plants, dig up your garden, pee in your house, open all your cupboards, mark up your furniture, get MUCH bigger than they tell you they are going to be, scream, bark, challenge you to a dual and just plain become a handful! Those of us who are piggie people, we "know" this and we don't care. You move and take your dog but put your pig in a shelter? I don't understand.
While I do want to rant and rave, I will try and contain myself and stick to my motto that is sometimes an effort to cling to. In this case though I am so proud to say, I know and love Lori & Briar, a pair that is going to stick together for a long time to come! You take care of yourself and you take care of your pig, and many times I have seen you do for him first. :-) I am so pleased to have in my life, people who that take such great consideration of their pet as part of their family, impress me! And that is really not an easy task to do! :-)
Debra Jo Chiapuzio
I have heard people with far greater ? resources give me excuses like we have to move, we're not zoned, he got to big, he got to mean and the list goes on. And here is someone you might think as far fewer resources and she takes better care of her pig than many... Pigs are a lifetime commitment! That could be 15 - 20 years of your life! They break stuff, eat your plants, dig up your garden, pee in your house, open all your cupboards, mark up your furniture, get MUCH bigger than they tell you they are going to be, scream, bark, challenge you to a dual and just plain become a handful! Those of us who are piggie people, we "know" this and we don't care. You move and take your dog but put your pig in a shelter? I don't understand.
While I do want to rant and rave, I will try and contain myself and stick to my motto that is sometimes an effort to cling to. In this case though I am so proud to say, I know and love Lori & Briar, a pair that is going to stick together for a long time to come! You take care of yourself and you take care of your pig, and many times I have seen you do for him first. :-) I am so pleased to have in my life, people who that take such great consideration of their pet as part of their family, impress me! And that is really not an easy task to do! :-)
Debra Jo Chiapuzio