Some pick pigs for pets

By Julia Curtis,
Bluedevilhub.com Staff–

Most people see pigs as dirty animals who roll in the mud and belong on a farm, or imagine them on their plate for breakfast. Little do they know, pigs are one of the top nine smartest animals on Earth, according to Mother Nature Network.

Davis High senior Sarah Chin has owned her pet pigs, Boo and Winnie, for almost two years now.

“Everyone in my family is allergic to dogs and cats, and fish weren’t really doing it,” Chin said. “My friend suggested to get pigs. Then we looked into it and now we have them.”

Just like most animals, pigs all have different personalities. Chin’s pigs are potty-trained and well-mannered.

Sophomore Autumn Johansson used to own a pig named Groucho who was not as well-behaved.

“We don’t have him anymore because he ate everything; he even ate our doll house,” Johansson said. “Groucho hated all the boys in our house so he would go in my brothers room, mess it up and poop on the chair.”

Although her pig caused some trouble in her house, Johansson still believes that pigs are the best pets to own, and she admits that her pig misbehaved because he wasn’t disciplined well.

According to Vet Techs, pigs are so smart that they will figure out how to manipulate their owners. They also need attention from their owners, because if they get bored they will become very destructive.

When Johansson was little she taught her pig how to sit by pushing down his rear and then feeding him.

“Forever after [I taught him how to sit] he would run across the house to anyone who had food, slide on his butt toward you and squeal,” Johansson said.

Junior Kayla Hickey has owned a pig for eight years now.

“I have a horse, so when I go to my barn I’m around pigs a lot. I enjoyed being around them, so when my dog passed away I asked my mom to get me a pig,” Hickey said.

Hickey spent a lot of time training her pig Devon when he was young, so he knows five tricks and has never caused any problems.

“Deciding to have a pig as a pet has been the best decision I have ever made,” she said. “Devon makes me laughevery day because he just does crazy stuff and never stops eating. It’s especially funny when I feed[him] oatmeal and it gets all over his face,” Hickey said.