A new forever home, complete with a newly constructed enclosure and a new girlfriend are awaiting Theodore on Vancouver Island later this month.
Langley Animal Protection Society confirmed that he鈥檚 going to a livestock sanctuary that provides homes for rescued and abandoned farm animals.
Theo 鈥� an 800-pound pig 鈥� came into the Langley animal shelter鈥檚 care last summer after he was found running at large down the Fraser Highway.
After further investigation, LAPS found Theo鈥檚 original owner, but they didn鈥檛 want him back.
鈥淭he owner decided not to claim him, so he stayed with us,鈥� said LAPS animal control officer Tina Jensen Fogt.
But LAPS was having difficulty finding a forever home for the two-year-old Yorkshire pig, and decided to go public with their quest back in mid-December.
鈥淭rying to find him a home has definitely been a challenge,鈥� said Jensen Fogt.
鈥淗e鈥檚 not your typical pet.鈥�
Since then, more than 50 offers came in to provide a new permanent home for Theo, including offers from Texas, Ohio, Maryland, and P.E.I.
Bringing Theo to a slaughterhouse was never an option, because he was too large, too old, and still intact.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e normally slaughtered around six months old and used for food. They鈥檙e designed to get really big, really fast. He was only neutered this past summer, so when a pig is left intact, the hormones affect the taste of meat. He just wouldn鈥檛 taste good,鈥� explained Jensen Fogt.
After numerous interviews and much discussion, a home was finally selected Tuesday afternoon, said LAPS executive director Jayne Nelson.
Instead of shipping him across the continent or onto a remote island, they picked one a bit closer to home.
He鈥檚 going to in Duncan, a facility run by Michelle Singleton.
鈥淭he woman has tons of experience and we just think she鈥檚 going to be terrific,鈥� Nelson said. 鈥淢ichelle supported our belief in the importance of finding Theodore a home where he would have the company of another pig.鈥�
Pigs, Nelson explained, can develop behavioural problems 鈥� like aggression 鈥� without companionship.
So while Singleton has pot-belly pigs, sheep, goats, ducks, and chickens on her farm, later this month she鈥檚 also adopting a similar-sized Berkshire pig named Lillian 鈥� to keep Theo company.
Jensen Fogt added LAPS received many great home offers, but things like experience, proximity, and companionship all played a factor in making a final decision.
Living with another pig will 鈥渆nrich his life so much,鈥� according to Jensen Fogt.
鈥淧igs are such social animals. They [Home for Hooves] seem like such a great fit for him, with everything he will need for the rest of his life.鈥�
Within a few weeks, Theo will take a ferry ride over to his new home in Duncan.
Prior to finding Theo鈥檚 forever home, Jensen Fogt had convinced her mother to provide a foster home for Theo, since LAPS didn鈥檛 have space to house such a large farm animal.
鈥淚f my parents were to do-over I鈥檓 not sure they鈥檇 have kids a second time with all the animals I鈥檝e pushed onto them over the years,鈥� laughed Jensen Fogt.
鈥淚鈥檝e really enjoyed the time I鈥檝e spent with him in our care.鈥�
And although Jensen Fogt is happy to find Theo a forever home, she said she will miss having his 鈥渜uirky鈥� personality around.
鈥淗e鈥檚 like any other animal, he has his own unique personality. He鈥檚 spunky and quirky. He鈥檒l come running up to you, and he loves his tummy rubs and a good scratch.鈥�
