Customer Profile
We recently had the pleasure of meeting Hammand, a mini potbelly pig owned by Elmhurst customers, Theresa (Terri) and David Vilona. Hammand entered our 100‐year pet photo contest last year and we were determined to meet him.
Hammand moved to Washington from Wisconsin about 5 years ago and just celebrated his 14th birthday. Terri purchased Hammand from a breeder in California. He was only big enough to fit in your hands and traveled by himself from California to Dallas, then to Milwaukee in a cat carrier. Terri says it was 1 of her most very stressful days, as she was sure he would be lost along the way.
As we learned from VCA Animal Hospitals, mini potbelly pigs are usually pets and were first domesticated in Southeast Asia. They typically live for 14‐21 years, with an average of 15‐18 years. They can live longer with a good diet and medical care. They make at least twenty different calls (barks, squeals, grunts, and screams). Pigs can live in harmony with other house pets, but those interactions should be supervised until the animals are comfortable with each other as dogs and cats are predators and pigs are prey.
In Wisconsin, Terri belonged to a group that shared their animals for stress relief and comfort for medical patients and senior citizens. She trained Hammand to walk on a leash and to be gentle with fragile people. He was a crowd favorite as he surprised and delighted people who had never touched or interacted with a pig in such close proximity.
Hammand has never spent a night outdoors, although he often is let out during the day to graze in the yard. When there are too many apples on the ground from fruit trees, he is fastened to a long tether to prevent him from overeating these tasty treats. Terri says people in nearby neighborhoods drive by hoping for a look at this unusual but dearly loved pet.
Hammand is 90 pounds and shares a home with his people, 2 dogs, and 3 cats. In the yard, he has goats, chickens, and even a guinea hen for companionship. In his younger years, he traveled with Terri and David and stayed in hotels with them.
As he is getting older, is becoming “grumpy,” and can work up an ear-splitting squeal if annoyed, he still loves a good back scratch and treats and eventually warmed up to the carrots we brought. His curly tail wags vigorously when he hears a friendly “Hammand is such a good boy”.
Terri is passionate about the care of animals and has much knowledge to share about caring for a house pig. She says pigs are very smart, clean and can be easy to care for if you do your research. Their dietary needs should be considered. Mini potbelly pigs weigh between 70‐150 pounds, and up to 200 pounds. When people purchase a pig and realize it is much bigger than anticipated, they sometimes abandon, neglect or are otherwise overwhelmed and uncertain how to care for them. Not all breeders are reputable or honest about the size of their pigs. In some neighborhoods, pigs are considered an “exotic” pet so local regulations should be researched as well.
The same weekend we visited with Hammand and his friends, we also visited Heartwood Haven with Brenda Mann, the wife of our longtime line foreman. Heartwood Haven is a local nonprofit organization that rescues animals, particularly pigs and most recently a family of cows. Brenda volunteered at Heartwood Haven and invited us to help her deliver a carload of pumpkins. Co‐owner Kate graciously gave us a tour of the farm, introduced us to the pigs (they all have names), and taught us about their nutritional and environmental needs. Kate explained that while there are rescue organizations dedicated to dogs, cats, rabbits, and other animals, there are very few dedicated to rescuing pigs.
Heartwood Haven grounds are beautiful, the pigs are well cared for and friendly, and their health needs are addressed. Pigs, as might be expected, overeat if their diet is not managed properly. Their obesity can lead to mechanical blindness and deafness. Sometimes with proper care, these harmful conditions can be reversed. The pigs have loads of personality and honor a hierarchy. Younger pigs (even if they are larger) do not approach you for a back scratch if the matriarch is there first.
We want to thank Terri for introducing us to Hammand and her other beautiful animals. Thank you to Brenda for introducing us to Kate and Heartwood Haven and sharing the stories of rescued animals with us. We wish we lived in a world without cruelty, especially towards children and animals. We are grateful for those who rescue and care for these vulnerable creatures.