Pirate
Pirate, along with his brother Prince were rescued from being BBQ piglets in August of 2016. They were approximately 3 months old and in terrible condition. Both boys were severely emaciated and infested with a heavy parasite burden. Pirate and his brother Prince are Berkshire Tamworth cross pigs who will weigh in excess of 700lbs when fully grown.
What makes Pirate unique and very special is that he has a prosthetic leg. Every morning while he has his breakfast we attach his leg brace for the day, and at night while he has his dinner it's taken off so his limb can rest and we can clean the device and do any necessary maintenance or repairs. Thanks to Pirate's orthosis he's able to run and play with the other animals at the Sanctuary and enjoy life, just like as a normal pig.
As Pirate grows he will require a series of replacement devices every few months. The orthoses are specially made for him from a cast impression that is taken by our vet. On average each device costs around $2,000 and Pirate is currently wearing his fouth device. Pigs grow until they're 4-5 years old.