In a shed in a garden lives a pig. Not just any pig. This is a micro pig, bred to grow no more than 18 inches high. And not just any garden: it is not in a village or on a farm, but in the urban environment of Richmond, south west London.
To refer to the pig as a racing pig might be something of an exaggeration.
Nevertheless, its owner, Olivia Mikhail, owner of 'Kew
Little Pigs', is planning to take Bo (the pig), along with its
cousins, to the London
Pet Show on 11 and 12 May, where it will race against other micro
pigs.
“They’ll do anything for food,” says Olivia, as Bo oinks around her ankles.
“We’ve built a sort of racecourse and all you do is rattle some feed at the
finishing line. They go like rockets.”
Pig racing is unusual in Britain. In rural parts of the southern United
States, it takes place regularly at county fairs. Normally it’s just a bit
of fun, though betting has been known to take place. From Olivia’s point of
view, it’s a way of drawing attention to these animals, which she loves.
“Next year we’re going to introduce some jumps,” she says. "We
don't take it too seriously. It's just a way of showing people how friendly
pigs can be."
Micro pigs cost between £200 and £600, grow to around 18 inches tall, and live for 15 to 20 years. They are relatively clean and easy to "toilet train", as they do not soil their living area. Some people give them the run of the house, but it is worth bearing in mind that it is illegal to feed them human food; their diet principally consists of pig feed (around £11 for a 20kg bag) and fresh fruit and vegetables. Moreover, they do need a sty, or "pig ark" in the garden.
"It can be great fun to take them for walks on a lead," says Olivia, "but you need a special license, and to record the details of every walk in a book. It seems like a major hassle, but on the whole it's actually far easier than keeping dogs, as pigs don't crave human attention."
Aha! My enquiring mind wants to ask what happens when a pig-walker encounters a dog-walker, especially if the dog is a doberman, German shepherd, etc?
I'll let you know when I get an address where you can order one, okay?
See ya, eh!
Bob
Micro pigs cost between £200 and £600, grow to around 18 inches tall, and live for 15 to 20 years. They are relatively clean and easy to "toilet train", as they do not soil their living area. Some people give them the run of the house, but it is worth bearing in mind that it is illegal to feed them human food; their diet principally consists of pig feed (around £11 for a 20kg bag) and fresh fruit and vegetables. Moreover, they do need a sty, or "pig ark" in the garden.
"It can be great fun to take them for walks on a lead," says Olivia, "but you need a special license, and to record the details of every walk in a book. It seems like a major hassle, but on the whole it's actually far easier than keeping dogs, as pigs don't crave human attention."
Aha! My enquiring mind wants to ask what happens when a pig-walker encounters a dog-walker, especially if the dog is a doberman, German shepherd, etc?
I'll let you know when I get an address where you can order one, okay?
See ya, eh!
Bob
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