Chowder the pig loves his canine family
What does it take to raise a pig? For Southern California resident Shelby Madere, the answer is patience and the love of family.
Upon reading a Craiglist ad about a pot-bellied pig that desperately needed to be re-homed, Southern California resident Shelby Madere immediately knew that she was the right person for the job.
The pig had been bought as a gift for someone who could no longer handle the responsibilities of caring for the animal.
Shelby set about giving the then-five-year-old Vietnamese pot-bellied pig, whose name is Chowder, "a wonderful life" and introduced him to her five rescue dogs Bashe, James, Nya, Slick, and Rika. The six of them are known as Piggy Poo and Crew, and Shelby often posts about their antics on social media.
Shelby admits that it has been challenging: "Pigs must be challenged and given games ... they can become depressed if not mentally stimulated". Shelby also added that pot-bellied pigs should be regarded more as "a two-to-three-year-old child, rather than a dog."
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By all accounts, Chowder loves his life with Shelby and the dogs. Though he might not be as sociable as his canine "siblings", he does appear to be well-adjusted and enjoys his time with the family.
Would you ever take on the challenge of raising a rescue pig?