Pig-Headed — Not Just for Teenagers
by Carie Stafford
There are so many idioms that are made up because of little old me. Of course, little is a word that does not describe me—maybe at one point in time. A few of those choice idioms include: pig-headed, eat like a pig, sweating like a pig, happy as a pig in muck. As you can guess, I am a pig, but not just any old pig: I am a pot-bellied pig.
A pig is a pig, right? Well, we may all taste good to you, but we are different and raised for different reasons. Pot-bellied pigs are originally domesticated pigs from Vietnam. There are different kinds of pot-bellied pigs, such as teacup, toy pot, royal dandies, micro mini, dandie extremes, mini julianas, and
miniature pot-bellied pigs. We range from 12-125 pounds, depending on our breed. We mature at two to three years old and can live for twelve to eighteen years. Pot-bellied pigs are usually raised to be pets—and fantastic pets we make, just like a dog or cat.
We love being treated like one of the family. We are easy to house-train, we are intelligent, we enjoy living inside with everyone else, we can walk on a leash, and we socialize with other animals and talk to you. It’s pig noises, but you eventually pick up what we are saying. The most astonishing thing, and what most people don’t know, is that we like to be clean. We like to root around in the dirt like any old pig, but we brush it off.
My name is Betsy Ross. Yes, I am a “4th of July girl.” I was originally purchased for a family with several children, and I lived in their bedroom with them. I had my own bed, ate out of a glass bowl, and loved to sleep under the blankets. I was not fond of my harness, but I enjoyed walking and playing with my human siblings. As I grew bigger, the space got smaller. I was given to a family friend, who had a farm, and have adjusted to being the head pig. I still have my blanket. My siblings come to visit and I remember them, so I get so excited and squeal with delight.
I have many friends here at the farm. Chickens, sheep, a dog, and cats. My favorite cat is an orange tabby, called Starlight. We do just about everything together. Sun bathing, carousing the farm, and sleeping together. Two peas in a pod, you could say.
I like the neighbors, though they are not fond of me. It may have something to do with the flower garden that I rooted up and ate all the flower bulbs, or maybe because I like swimming in their pool without permission.
I do like my nails polished and even have favorite colors of red, purple, and pink. I love me some fresh fruits, especially bananas, without the peel. My favorite treat is to get into the vegetable garden and dig up the sweet potatoes and the tomatoes—so scrumptious. I have to grab and go, because if I dally, I will get caught.
Speaking of grub, it is time to eat! It can be pretty messy and noisy—you might not want to hang around for this.
