Life With A Miniature Pig

My roommate adopted a miniature pig…and I've fallen in love with it.

Mr. Choppers

This is the name that we decided to give our miniature, all black, potbellied pig that lives in our apartment in Bloomington, IN.

Last November, my roommate texted me asking if I cared if she adopted a pet pig. At first, I thought it was a joke. In fact, I think I responded with "Yeah for sure, when he gets fat we can make bacon."

I come home the following day to a pig laying on my futon. I tried to pick him up, he was unamused and screamed a sound I have never heard before in my life.

The first few weeks Choppers lived with us, my roommate almost gave him back to the person who gave him to her. This is how brutal it was. In fact, the woman who had Choppers before us purchased him to deal with a break up and decided she didn't like him, so she gave him to us. Choppers began to rebel, maybe it was because he was living with four girls, and felt extremely outnumbered, but I guess we'll never know for sure. He began to snap at people who would try to pet him, climb on us whenever we ate (it's true about pigs, they seem to never get full), and he quit using his litter box. Our apartment began to smell like a barn.

This behavior carried on for about a month. Around the time we all decided we were completely fed up, he began to get used to us. Things slowly (very slowly) but surely changed into what Mr. Choppers is like today.

Mr. Choppers is an A+ snuggle buddy. Whenever we sit in his favorite chair, he climbs up with us and nuzzles his snout into our side and will lay there for hours watching Netflix with us. He has learned the word no (although he still looks up at you with his pig-alicious eyes hoping maybe you'll give him some of your dinner). He even uses his litter box (for the most part).

Choppers is still unsure about new people, particularly males. We like to think its him protecting us. Before Choppers was given to us, he lived with two dogs, and he actually barks at people who enter the apartment that he doesn't know (although if this person offers him food, they become his friend, so lets hope no burglars figure that out). He has learned a number of extremely cool tricks, my favorite is when he does a figure eight around our legs with his mouth hanging open, waiting for us to give him a treat.

For anyone who is thinking about getting a pig, I recommend being extremely ready (there are many books about raising miniature pigs) and being patient. It took a few months for Choppers to become what he is now, a pet. Although the beginning of his time with us was rough, I thoroughly enjoy his company everyday.

I love you, Mr. Choppers.