Nestled between Cave Creek and New River is a piggy paradise, complete with wallows, kiddie pools, insulated “houses” and medical resources.
Better Piggies Rescue developed out of Arizonan Danielle Betterman’s love for the special creatures, which she says can be very “nerdy” and funny.
“Everybody thinks of pigs as dirty, smelly and aggressive,” Betterman said. “They’re none of those things.”
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Though Betterman’s love of pigs started small, today the rescue is home to exactly 200 pigs, two cows and two indoor cats (who have befriended the pigs). Betterman said she takes in pigs of all kinds, from farm hogs to pot bellies, each with a unique ― and often tragic ― rescue story.
“I love them all for different reasons,” she said.
‘I couldn’t turn a blind eye’
Betterman’s journey to owning and operating the rescue started about 15 years ago, when she received a pig as a gift.
“He was this little baby,” Betterman said. “His name is Beezers and he’s the love of my life.”
Betterman said she wanted to be the “best piggy mama possible,” so she began researching and connecting with pig organizations like Ironwood Pig Sanctuary and Circle L Ranch in Prescott. She said she saw a huge need for pet pig rescues, similar to those for dogs and cats.
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“I just couldn’t turn a blind eye, so I started helping those organizations with rescues and started fostering,” Betterman said.
As she worked to help more pigs, she started an Instagram page to highlight her special pets. The page, Better Piggies, was a nod to her last name and quickly garnered a large online following.
Following the page’s success, Betterman moved from Gilbert to Desert Hills and decided to convert her nearly 2,000-square-foot property into a pig oasis.
How to care for 200 pigs
It’s not easy to care for 200 pigs, and it is a full-time job for Betterman.
In the summer, she starts her days at 4 a.m. feeding the pigs, refilling their pools, cleaning up and distributing medication to the pigs that need it. In the afternoon, Betterman or her volunteers will go back outside to check on the pigs and ensure they’re as comfortable as possible in the extreme heat. Betterman said some pigs won’t take the initiative to go in the pool, so they will often hose them down to keep them cool.
When Betterman is not taking care of the pigs, she does community outreach, answers emails and sets up future events.
Her days are similar in the winter, with the exception of frequent events and tours. When the weather cools down, Better Piggies hosts piggy yoga and meditation, volunteer orientations, company events and tours with Scouting America and Girl Scouts of America.
Raising awareness
All of the outreach and events Betterman coordinates through Better Piggies has a common goal.
She aims to clear up common misconceptions people have about pigs. She wants to show the world that pigs of all kinds need loving homes, not just “the mini, tiny pigs that people always post,” she said.
One way she does this is through social media. The rescue has expanded on Betterman’s original Instagram page, building a prominent social media presence that educates people.
“Our goal is knowledge,” Betterman said.
Betterman also has established a presence in the community, which she said helps the rescue in many ways.
“We can rescue more pigs, share our knowledge and get more people to adopt pigs if we’re part of the community,” she said.
When Betterman founded Better Piggies Rescue, she and her team also launched a sponsorship program. For $30 a month, supporters can sponsor a pig and receive monthly updates and photos of their pig, plus the opportunity to visit the sanctuary at any time.
Betterman described it as “a sponsorship slash volunteer” program. The rescue’s 40 sponsors keep the operation afloat and allow them to provide medical aid and shelter to pigs in need without worry.
Each pig has a place in her heart
As Betterman talked, some of the pigs approached her in hopes of belly scratches and pets; she introduced each pig as they approached. Each pig has with their own story, she said.
Blanco, one of Betterman’s pigs, was found in Lake Havasu, where it’s illegal to own pet pigs. He was in a box outside for three days.
“When he came (to Better Piggies), he was super shy and sunburned,” Betterman said.
Despite the tough circumstances that lead Blanco to Better Piggies, he would later break out of his shell and become best friends with another pig named Cole. The two love each other and sleep together at night, Betterman said.
“I know all of their rescue stories because I was a part of them,” she said.
Betterman lovingly refers to another pig named Jimmy as a “hungry hungry hippo” because he opens his mouth wide during feeding times.
One pig named Keene used to hate people, Betterman said. When he first at arrived Better Piggies, he would not allow staff to touch him.
“This is why volunteering is so important, because I’m only one person,” Betterman said. “We have so many pigs, that having volunteers here to have those interactions with them is really helpful.”
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: This woman cares for 200 pigs at Phoenix animal rescue. Here’s how she does it
Reporting by Olivia Rose, Arizona Republic / Arizona Republic
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
