|
I very much dislike the
phrase, "go vegan." I prefer,
"think about what one is doing"
or "become responsible."
Read the whole story
here:
Mother Nature News January 18,
2014
http://www.mnn.com/family/pets/stories/375-pound-minipig-inspires-2-men-to-go-vegan
375-pound 'minipig' inspires 2
men to go vegan
Esther won the hearts of the
men who adopted her, and they're
sharing her story in hopes of
inspiring others to see animals
as more than meat.
By Laura Moss
Esther the wonder pig
Photo: Esther the Wonder
Pig/Facebook
When Steve Jenkins and Derek
Walter agreed to adopt a friend's
recently purchased "minipig,"
they brought the tiny animal into
the Toronto home they shared with
two dogs.
They named her Esther and
cared for her as she grew. And
grew. Into a 375-pound hog.
Esther the wonder pigBut
Esther had even more surprises in
store for them.
The pig was curious, playful
and intelligent — not so
unlike their canine companions,
who often cuddled up to
Esther.
Esther was also a bit of a
troublemaker. She could turn door
handles, open cabinets and even
crack open the freezer, so
Jenkins and Walter eventually had
to "pig-proof" their house.
When she wasn’t
initiating games of tag or
playing tug-of-war, Esther would
wander through the house looking
for a dog or a human to snuggle
with. Her size doesn't prevent
her from crawling onto the couch
or climbing into bed.
Esther won over both men
— and the dogs — and
became a permanent addition to
the family. When Jenkins and
Walter learned that she'd been
born on a commercial farm to be
raised for meat, they were
shocked.
Tossed aside because she was a
"runt," Esther just barely
escaped a fate that would've
landed her on a dinner plate.
Esther the wonder pig with one
of her owners and family dogThe
emotional connection they felt
with Esther led Jenkins and
Walter to make another
connection: The animals they ate
as food were no different from
the animals they loved as
pets.
It didn't take long for both
men to become vegans.
"I wish people would be more
aware of how amazingly smart and
emotional pigs are," Jenkins told
PETA. "When given the chance to
be loved and to be themselves,
pigs are social, friendly, loving
and sensitive animals."
The men started a Facebook
page for their portly pet,
dubbing her "Esther the Wonder
Pig," in hopes of showing other
people that animals are loving
and intelligent creatures that
value their lives.
"We want people to make the
connection between Esther and the
millions of pigs exactly like her
who weren't so lucky," Jenkins
said. "To show that given the
chance, these animals grow to
become the most amazing and
compassionate animals you'll ever
meet. I look into her eyes, and I
see someone looking straight
back. Someone who knows and loves
me just as we do her."
|
