Question. When is a pig not a chop? Answer. When it’s a Micropig.
I should really be celebrating the fortune of birth that this latest entry to the animal pop charts has benefited from. Instead though, being a cup half empty kind of guy, I’m musing on the unfair treatment of their larger cousin, the pig (pictured left), or you may know them by the latin name I’ve just made up, Porcus Grandus.
Reaching an adult height of sixteen inches and living to around twenty years, the Micropig is indeed exceptionally cute and able to stand up to inspection against our old favourites, the puppy and the kitten. Like these established stars of the pet world, the Micropig is a huge commitment – a highly intelligent animal that needs love and care all its life.
Films like ‘Babe’ have sold the idea to millions that pigs are intelligent and social animals with characteristics not unlike our best friend, the dog. However, they are a species tarnished by mistaken associations; with being a bit dirty (not surprising as they live in fields – if they are lucky!) and by being considered a bit tasty (unless you live by specific dietary laws of course).
The Micropig has developed celebrity status. Julia Bradbury, presenter of Countryfile and Kill it Cook it Eat it, wrote on Twitter recently:
“Awwwwwhhhh...how cute is this little fella? Remember a dog is for life, a Micropig is for life, and dinner...”
Julia makes a flippant though still interesting remark as she realises that here we have an animal walking the tightrope – wobble too far to the right, there’s the dinnerplate, too far to the left, there’s erm, another dinnerplate, but keep on the straight and narrow and by jove, they might just make it past Boxing Day.
I’m sure no-one purchases a Micropig (they’re around £700 in case you are interested) or any other pet for that matter without initial good intentions, however far too many pets are still being purchased as presents and there are scary statistics on the number of unwanted animals being handed into rescue centres after the honeymoon period ends.
On the ‘Little Pig Farm’ website (Micropig breeders) there is a FAQ explaining the options open to those no longer able to keep their Micropig. In such cases they say there is always a waiting list of people wanting to adopt, so there is no need to worry. Not for now anyway.
One of the main issues for me though is that the more people buy them, the more they will be bred, meaning that supply could eventually outstrip demand. When the waiting lists dwindle, what future then for the Micropig? Let’s hope that the Micropig does not become a victim of its own success.
This fad is just a micro-example of all that’s wrong with seeing pets as fashion items. Why not celebrate all pets, just as we celebrate Christmas, and give them all a good time. And a good life.