In recent years, miniature pigs — better known as “teacup pigs” — have become a trendy pet, prized for their cuteness as much as their small stature and intelligence.
But, the reason teacup pigs are small? They are babies. And, as babies are wont to do, they grow up.
Once a teacup pig is fully grown — which can take six years — they can weigh more than an adult human.
Boulder Creek resident Dani Ebskamp-Franke, who currently owns three pigs — two of which were rescued, said that pet owners often purchase miniature pigs without realizing how big they will get, or what they need to stay healthy.
“Three hundred to 400 pounds is considered a miniature pig,” she said. “When they’re born, they’re tiny — even hogs are at that age.”
Ebskamp-Franke, who ran an animal rescue for many years in the Los Angeles area before relocating to the San Lorenzo Valley, said that many are led to believe that teacup pigs are a special breed that does not get bigger than a small dog, a notion that is not discouraged by some less-than-scrupulous breeders.
“There is no such thing as a teacup pig — they’re just pot-bellied pigs,” she said, adding that the term “miniature pig” only means miniature in comparison to hogs, which can weigh more than 1,000 pounds. “People think ‘oh cute’ — but they keep growing for six years.”
As the pigs inevitably grow larger, owners often find they are unable to care for their animals, and are forced to give them up, placing a strain on animal shelters.
Pigs, Ebskamp-Franke said, need room to roam, to dig, and to root — none of which they can do in an apartment.
“People will get them (as babies) and think ‘Oh, I can have that in my apartment,’” she said, adding that a pig can destroy furniture and carpeting quite easily if not given proper outlets.
In her yard is a large fenced in area for her three pigs — Poloneus, Theo, and Alvin. All three have plenty of room to dig, play, and sleep in insulated houses.
All three pigs — now 10 years of age — would have been considered teacup pigs as babies. Now, they all weigh several hundred pounds.
With that in mind, Ebskamp-Franke said that pot-bellied pigs actually can make terrific family pets, provided that they are properly trained from a young age and the owners understand what they are getting themselves into.
“They can simply be a member of your family … they’re really, really smart,” she said. “Pigs, like a lot of other animals, need to be socialized when they’re young.”
The pigs’ intelligence can be both a positive and a negative, Ebskamp-Franke said, adding that the animals need continued mental stimulation or else they will seek out their own entertainment, much to their owners’ chagrin.
“They have not only the brain of a two-or-three-year-old (human), but they also have the temperament,” she said. “If you don’t set boundaries, they will knock you over.”
