11/07/2025
Jeffrey: The Gentle Soul Who Defied the Odds
This video is a tribute to Jeffrey — and to his devoted mom, Shelley — who believed in him and cared for him with unwavering love, even when the odds were stacked against him.
Jeffrey came into Shelley and Pigs ‘n Paws’ lives in September 2022 — a moment none of us will ever forget.
He was found by a group of students driving past farms in the Pretoria area. At first, they thought he was a stray dog. But when they stopped, they realised he was a pig — painfully thin and barely holding on. He was over a year old but weighed only 25kg — a quarter of what he should have.
One of the young men felt overwhelming compassion for him. Unable to keep Jeffrey at his family’s home, he reached out — and that’s when Shelley stepped in. The plan was simple: bring him to safety, nurse him back to health, and eventually transfer him to Pigs ‘n Paws sanctuary. But as is often the case with the special ones… Jeffrey had other plans.
When he arrived, Shelley noticed a faded pink dot on his forehead — the kind used in commercial farming to mark animals for slaughter or culling. A haunting reminder of the life he narrowly escaped.
At first, Shelley focused on helping him gain weight with proper nutrition. But something was wrong. Every time Jeffrey ate, he would regurgitate his food within minutes. After consulting with the vet, he was diagnosed with megaesophagus — a condition that prevents food from reaching the stomach and puts the animal at constant risk of aspiration pneumonia. Sadly, he developed it more than once.
The vet advised Shelley that it might be kinder to let him go. But she saw the fight in his eyes. He had already come so far — and she knew he deserved a chance to thrive.
So, she fought for him.
A special feeding platform was built so he could stand upright — letting gravity help his body do what it couldn’t on its own. He was spoon-fed smoothies. Love and persistence became his medicine. And it worked. In just two weeks, he gained 8kg — a milestone that shocked even the vet.
And so they continued.
Jeffrey blossomed. He couldn’t have straw bedding — he would’ve eaten it and gotten sick — so he had soft blankets instead. But that never dimmed his joy. He loved belly rubs. He made the sweetest sounds when content. He went from frail and fading… to a happy, thriving pig who eventually weighed 125kg.
He found joy. He found safety. And he was deeply loved.
In March this year, Jeffrey fell ill again. Shelley and the vet did everything they could — but this time, he didn’t recover.
His passing was deeply traumatic. The kind of heartbreak that leaves a silence too heavy for words. For a while, it was too raw to speak about. Too sacred to share. But Jeffrey’s story matters.
Because he was special.
He wasn’t just a pig who survived — he was a soul who fought, who forgave, and who loved without limits.
Despite everything he endured, he remained gentle and affectionate. He adored his mom, Shelley, and welcomed human affection with the same grace, even when he had every reason not to.
His resilience, his fight to live, and his capacity to love remind us why stories like his need to be told — not just to honour him, but to shine a light on the power of compassion, belief, and second chances.
Jeffrey stayed with Shelley for two and a half years. Every single day was a gift. He reminded us that no matter how broken something may seem, with enough love and care — healing is possible.
He was more than a rescue.
And sometimes, when Shelley took photos of him, there was a soft glow around his head — almost like a halo. A reminder of how special he truly was. A blessing in the shape of a pig.
Jeffrey, thank you for letting us love you.
And Shelley, thank you for showing the world what it means to truly believe in another soul.
Your spirit will stay with us always. 🐽
Pigs 'n' Paws Pigs 'n' Paws Rescue
