Sad news about our pig....

 

We are sad to report that our beloved pig, Cutie Pie, passed away on February 12. 

 

Cutie had been slowing down in the past year, finding it more and more difficult to get around.  She weighed almost 1,000 pounds, which is large even for Yorkshire pigs.  As the winter went along, she was less and less able to stand to eat and drink.  In the last week of her life, she was unable to get up and had lost interest in food (except bananas!).  Bob spent time giving her water each day and making sure she had shelter and warmth.  She spent most of the last few days of her life sleeping, until she finally died.  She had just turned 7.

 

We picked up Cutie (and her brother, Truffles) from a farm outside Boston in 2008 when they were 2 months old.  They very quickly became the main attraction for farm visitors.  Truffles was sold to a local farmer but Cutie Pie stayed on as our farm pet.  We had hoped to breed her so she could raise her own piglets.  Our hopes were high during what turned out to be a false pregnancy; but, she never actually became pregnant.

 

Cutie Pie had many admirers - neighbors, CSA members, out-of-town visitors, and many people who had only heard of Cutie but had never met her.  Our pig had her very own social network!  On the one hand, it is difficult to understand so much admiration and love for a creature so large, with such an unforgettable scent, who would reward visitors with a very visible bathroom break, and eat without any regard for manners.  But, loved she was! 

 

Perhaps Cutie was so lovable because of her size - it was an awesome experience to be so close to such a large animal, particularly for small children.  Or, maybe it was her curiosity - she was often eager to see what the fuss was and why so many people were visiting.  Maybe it was her gentleness - she ate out of our hands, she never harmed the chickens who flocked around her, and she once protected a litter of kittens near her fence, hidden there by a wise feral cat who must have known that a gentle watch-pig lived nearby.  Maybe it was because she seemed to understand that, when families would come and sit to watch her or feed her or talk to her, she was offering them a quiet and safe space to just be.

 

Our family is very sad that Cutie is gone.  She was the seam that connected our farm to the community - such a visible, classic symbol of a real, working farm.  We will miss her, but we have many pictures and memories to keep her alive in our minds, and we have the wonderful sentiments that others have shared.  They appear below.  If you knew Cutie Pie, these beautiful comments may offer comfort.  If you didn't know her, you will wish you had!

 

So long, Cutie Pie!  Rest in peace!