Hope nearly didn’t exist. He was part of a welfare concern that, without intervention, would have destroyed Hope, his mother, and his brothers and sisters. Dean Farm Trust came forward and said they could take two of the boys. Hope and his brother Hero.
They took them both into their care, but another issue loomed.
Hero
Hero had a large hernia. After surgery, complications arose that the vets could not resolve. Mary Frankland (founder of Dean Farm Trust) shared that sadly, they had to let him go.
Hope was suddenly alone. He arrived with his brother, and now his brother was gone, and the sanctuary understood he needed company.
Hope’s Next Steps
The sanctuary put out a plea to find him, friends. The pigs Mary had hoped he might live with were too big, which wouldn’t have worked for Hope. So the plea went wider and was swiftly answered. Three Kunekune pigs- Woody, Wilf, and Derek came to Dean Farm Trust. With a moment to settle into their new home, they were ready to meet sweet Hope.
It didn’t take long for him to be accepted by the kunekune squad. On Dean Farm Trust’s Instagram account, they documented Hope sleeping with them. They got on like ‘a house on fire’.
He overcame the loss of his brother, Mary noted, and acknowledged how it must have been incredibly traumatic for him. Then, he embraced everyone in his path. He embraced his three new friends.
Who Hope Is
Hope is the friendliest of piggies, according to Mary. She states he’s like a little puppy. ‘He’s inquisitive, fun, excited,’ and he’s happy to be alive. Hope loves people, rooting, exploring, visitors of the sanctuary, and is a gentle individual.
He is like a little puppy. Inquisitive. Fun. Excited. Happy to be alive — and notably, visibly, consistently happy to be alive, in the way that young animals are when they have been given the conditions to simply be themselves. He loves people. He loves rooting. He loves exploring. He loves visitors, and the sanctuary has had many, and every person who meets him seems inspired by his story.
What He Shows
Hope’s place in the sanctuary illustrates clear facts about pigs that are often missed. They do indeed feel and experience the world as individuals. They desire a life of happiness, freedom, and companionship.
This is what pigs do when they are allowed to. Pigs are heavily exploited animals who are often deemed to be apathetic to their direct situation. But they’re incredibly intelligent beings who have unique experiences.
Mary shared that Hope makes choices. She argues that he’s no different from us in the ways that matter.
Hope is named aptly. He was found in a place where his life was in imminent danger. Compassionate people stepped in to save his life. Watching him now enjoy his days, it is clear to view a world with better outcomes for pigs and other animals like him, who deserve protection from harm.
Hope lives at Dean Farm Trust alongside his friends and many other residents. To follow his story and support the sanctuary’s work, visit their website,
Watch our video on Hope here:
