Opheila is a piglet who was no longer wanted by her owners. While at near capacity, we figured we could make room for one more super-friendly piglet. Our request to the owners was for them to drop her off at our pig-approved vet (Blue Ridge Veterinary Associates in Purcellville, VA) for a spay procedure, where we would then pick her up once she was done.
Early that morning, we received a message from the vet. Ophelia was in their possession, but they could not operate on her because she was too sick. The poor piglet had a respiratory virus in which she was constantly coughing, and performing a spay procedure on her in that type of condition would be very risky. The vet treated her for the cough, and we agreed to pick her up and bring her back once she healed up.
Upon our own examination of her, we realized Ophelia also had a horrible skin rash and a bad case of mites. She was in such bad shape that she constantly scratched her skin against the metal fencing of her pen causing herself to bleed. We quickly treated her for parasites. Ophelia was also quarantined from any close contact with any other pig. Despite the temptation, we also did not pet her without gloves and hand sanitation to avoid the spread of the mites and sickness.
We are happy to report that after a months time, Ophelia has healed up wonderfully and is growing stronger every day! She loves to eat and is constantly seeking attention and treats, which is the sign of a very healthy pig. Ophelia has also moved to her permanent location here in Mary’s Piggly Pleasant Pen for Friendly Pigs (with friends Dude, Jimmy, and Penelope). Visitors that are part of our guided tours will get to pet Ophelia as part of the friendly pig experience.
Help Support Ophelia
We depend on the support of kind-hearted people to help ensure pigs like these pigs receive the best daily care possible! Please consider making a small donation or even sponsoring them as a virtual pig parent. All donations make a positive difference in the lives of our pig residents. Should you choose to sponsor any pig, you receive a welcome packet, some keepsakes, on-demand updates about him, and even a free ticket to one of our guided tours so you can meet them in person!