10/25/2026
Saved: The Stories of Saving Snouts
Story 5: Zoey
We had to pretend we were going to eat her. That was our only way to save her. 💔
The farmer wouldn’t give her to us to save- he’d only give her to us to slaughter. How tragic. 😔
That little piglet was destined for a short life as a fair show-pig and pumped so full of steroids her little body wasn’t the same body anymore. Farm animals don’t typically receive vet care, and when Zoey developed a vaginal prolapse, the farmer, with no medical training and no anesthetics, decided to “fix” her medical emergency himself. He used a staple gun on her sensitive tissue. SIX TIMES. 😱
When we were made aware of this cruelty, we rushed to get her out of that hellhole. TJ reached out first- with an offer to get her treatment and save her life. But the farmer wouldn’t let TJ take her- unless she planned to eat her. 😤
Think about that for a moment. “Eat… HER.” She’s a piglet, a baby, a little girl. Not a piece of bread or a noodle or a carrot, but a living, breathing creature with a heartbeat. There was not an ounce of compassion in that man. He said NO.
One of our longest-tenured volunteers messaged the farmer later. She heard there was a show pig he was looking to get rid of. He said she’d make a good “smokin’ pig.” 😣
Our volunteer “agreed” and they planned her pick-up. Desperate times called for desperate measures- the ladies hurriedly scraped all the rescue stickers off the car and arrived at that farm as total pork-lovers.
***Aaaand the Award for Best Actresses in an Emergency Rescue goes to… The women of Saving Snouts!!!! 🥳🥳🥳
(Cheers! Applause! Whoop-whoop!) 👏🏼
They rushed her to safety. Rushed her to medical care. She was stressed from transport and in a lot of pain from her prolapse. The vet team lovingly pampered her with cozy blankets and put a soothing fan on her. Mama TJ, exhausted from working overnight the night before, fell asleep beside that little piglet right there on the floor. The symbol of pure devotion. 🥹❤️
The piglet recovered. 🥳
She was named after one of her rescuer’s beautiful granddaughters. She would now forever be our sweet Zoey. 🥰
She quickly captivated our hearts with her joyful nature. She’s never known a stranger; despite all she endured. Zoey inspires us all, easily forgiving humanity for the horrors she experienced. She is kind and friendly and outgoing and silly.
When she was little, she’d eagerly greet her caretakers, mischievously nibbling our boot buckles and knees, and flop over for her tummy rubs. (She still runs to greet us, and still loves tummy rubs more than any dog, but the knee-nibblin’ has abated with age.) 😆
While Zoey was recovering, we welcomed home an adorable Duroc piglet. (More on Dawson’s story next Sunday!) Whenever we walked him around, that little fella always gravitated to Zoey. While she recovered from surgery, they smooched snouts through the fence. And from the moment we placed him in with her, those precious piglets have been inseparable. 🥰
They eat together, snuggle together, request tummy rubs together. When Zoey fell ill this summer, Dawson never left her side. When Zoey runs to greet us, Dawson moseys behind. They literally grew up together. Now they’ll spend their whole natural lives together. True BFF’s!
Zoey and Dawson are one of our favorite duos and absolutely beloved by our whole team, our visitors, and our online community. 🐽❤️
We’ve always said Zoey has that spark, that “it” factor… Whatever “it” is, it’s EVERYTHING. She has the most joyful heart. She lights up the sanctuary, and you truly feel brighter, happier, just being near her. She is pure sunshine. ☀️
And to think, this incredible species ambassador would have been exploited at a fair for a couple weeks and sent to slaughter the moment the gates closed. The world would have lost such a brilliant light. How many others like her succumb to that terrible fate, their beautiful faces and radiant, loving hearts extinguished from this world? 😔
We love them through her.
Always and forever. 🫶
On that fateful day, it was hard for our team to even pretend to want to eat her. But those ladies went full-on Mama Bear mode and did whatever it took to save her. Now Zoey gets to enjoy every single minute of the rest of her life. 🥰
We’re so happy we get to know and love you, Zozos! 🫶🐽❤️
