At Marshall’s Piggy Paradise in Angel Canyon, Utah, life for a rescued pig was described in 2018 as a combination of compatible pig companions, weather-protected housing, carefully portioned food, regular veterinary work, daily enrichment and training aimed at a future home. Best Friends Animal Sanctuary’s feature, published May 7, 2018, portrayed the setting as a temporary home for pigs who had lost theirs—not as a permanent exhibit or a generic farm.
The account answers the practical question behind “What do pet pigs eat?” with only one sanctuary’s example: a low-sugar, high-fiber diet based on quality pellets, vegetables and seasonal produce. It also shows why feeding is only one part of the job. The pigs’ social groups, hoof and dental care, opportunities to root and wallow, and positive-reinforcement lessons were all treated as essential parts of their care.
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What Marshall’s Piggy Paradise was like in the 2018 account
Christelle L. Del Prete’s feature for Best Friends Animal Society described Marshall’s Piggy Paradise as a dedicated area for pigs at the organization’s Sanctuary in Angel Canyon. The article reported about 25 pigs living there at that time. That figure belongs to the May 7, 2018 account; it is not a current census, and the feature does not establish that the population, buildings or routines remain unchanged.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsThe pigs arrived for different reasons, but the feature highlighted a recurring problem: potbellied pigs can be placed in homes before their eventual size and needs are understood. Some were surrendered after zoning disputes, while others had been marketed as “teacup” or “mini” pigs and grew larger than their families expected. Best Friends’ description therefore starts with a welfare problem rather than a breed label. A pig that no longer fits a household still needs a place designed around its behavior, health and social life.
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Why compatible groups matter
Best Friends’ staff said pigs lived in groups because companionship was important to their well-being, while also acknowledging that any two pigs are not automatically suitable roommates. Caregivers arranged groups around age, temperament, activity level and special needs. The named areas below are the feature’s description of the sanctuary at publication, not a current map.
| Area described in the feature | Who it served | Reason for the arrangement |
|---|---|---|
| Retirement community | Older and special-needs pigs | A quieter community for pigs requiring additional consideration |
| Piggy park | Often a younger, smaller group | Grouping pigs with a similar size and life stage |
| Green-collar area | Friendly pigs comfortable around volunteers and visitors | Social interaction with people could be part of their routine |
| Social-butterfly area | Pigs needing extra one-on-one attention | More space and less foot traffic for deliberate socialization |
| Holly’s pasture | Higher-energy pigs | Described as a “rumpus room” where active pigs could use their energy |
Jen Reid, identified in the feature as manager of Horse Haven and Marshall’s Piggy Paradise, explained the human side of that social planning: “In my experience, when pigs don’t have the opportunity to socialize and interact with other pigs, they can start to have problems with people.” That is Reid’s reported experience, not a controlled study or a universal veterinary conclusion. It does, however, explain why the sanctuary treated pig-to-pig relationships as part of behavior care rather than as an optional extra.
Social grouping was a management task, not a one-time introduction
The descriptions imply continuing observation. A younger, energetic pig might need a different environment from an older pig with health limitations; a sociable pig could be a good candidate for visitor interaction, while another might make better progress with individual attention away from heavy foot traffic. The article does not provide a formal compatibility test, a fixed group size or a current placement policy. What it does show is a deliberate decision to match the setting to the individual pig instead of putting every resident into one undifferentiated herd.
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The houses were described as dry and comfortable. Some had heating and air-conditioning; others were stocked with hay that pigs could use for nesting. The feature also described dirt where pigs could root, mud baths in warm weather and walks with caregivers or volunteers. These details matter because shelter alone does not supply the behaviors pigs are motivated to perform. Rooting, nest-making, walking and wallowing gave residents choices beyond standing in a pen.
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Warm-weather mud baths were enrichment as well as a way to let pigs wallow. Dirt rooting offered a natural foraging activity. Hay supplied a nesting material for residents whose houses were not described as climate-controlled. The article does not state the dimensions of the yards, the exact temperatures used for heating or cooling, or how often each pig went for a walk. Those omissions are important: the feature is a portrait of the care philosophy and reported arrangements, not a construction specification or a current operating manual.
What the pigs ate
The sanctuary’s reported menu was low in sugar and high in fiber. High-quality pellets formed the foundation, supplemented with fresh vegetables such as romaine lettuce, peas, carrots, lima beans and green beans. Seasonal produce included watermelon, zucchini and pumpkin. Treats mentioned in the feature were fig cookies, dried fruit and almonds. Coconut oil was noted for skin care, not as a substitute for the main diet.
For scale, the 2018 article reported that the sanctuary went through four cases of romaine lettuce and five 30-pound boxes of frozen vegetable mix each week, along with seasonal produce. Those quantities describe the roughly 25-pig population and purchasing pattern reported at that time. They are not a feeding recommendation for a household pig, a present-day forecast or a universal ration. Individual needs can vary with age, size, activity and health, and the feature does not provide pellet portions, calorie targets or veterinary feeding instructions.
| Food or category | How the feature described it |
|---|---|
| Pellets | High-quality foundation of a low-sugar, high-fiber diet |
| Fresh vegetables | Romaine, peas, carrots, lima beans and green beans |
| Seasonal produce | Watermelon, zucchini and pumpkin |
| Treats | Fig cookies, dried fruit and almonds |
| Skin care | Coconut oil was mentioned as part of care |
The menu also illustrates the difference between describing what one facility bought and prescribing a diet. The article supplies categories and examples, but not a veterinary formula for every pig. Readers should not infer that the weekly lettuce or frozen-vegetable amounts can simply be divided by the number of pigs and copied at home.
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Routine veterinary work and critical care
Health care was built into the routine. The feature described annual “spa days” that combined hoof trims, blood work, dental care and general wellness checks. Some older or special-needs pigs could have two or more of these visits in a year. A small clinic handled routine dental, hoof and wellness work, while critical care or surgery took place at the Best Friends Animal Clinic.
Calling these visits “spa days” did not make them cosmetic appointments. Hoof trimming affects comfort and mobility; dental checks can identify problems that are difficult for a keeper to see; blood work and general examinations provide information about internal health. The article does not state which tests were used, how often each procedure was repeated for a particular pig, or what medical conditions the residents had. It does establish that preventive care was planned rather than reserved for emergencies.
Older and special-needs pigs received a different schedule
The possibility of two or more wellness days a year for some residents is an example of individualized care. It also reinforces the reason for the retirement community: age and special needs influenced both social placement and veterinary attention. The feature does not give a price list, a staffing ratio or a complete list of procedures, so the reported schedule should not be treated as a standard for every sanctuary or pet pig.
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The feature’s list of activities was broad: food puzzles, games, quiet social time, brushing, belly rubs, walking, rooting and mud wallowing in warm weather. Some activities used food; others used touch, movement or companionship. That variety allowed caregivers to offer stimulation without assuming that every pig wanted the same interaction at the same moment.
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Food puzzles turned part of a meal into a problem-solving activity. Brushing and belly rubs provided calm, one-to-one contact for pigs that enjoyed it. Walks added movement and new surroundings. Rooting and mud gave pigs ways to perform species-typical behaviors. The article does not specify the brands or designs of puzzles, the length of walks or a daily enrichment timetable; it reports the types of opportunities available.
Training for practical skills and future homes
Best Friends trainers and caregivers were reported to use Parelli Natural Horsemanship and positive reinforcement. The feature says pigs learned agility and practical behaviors, including entering a kennel and walking up a vehicle ramp. Those are not party tricks. A pig that can enter a kennel calmly is easier to transport for veterinary care, and one that can use a ramp is better prepared for moving between a home and a vehicle.
Positive reinforcement also gave caregivers a way to build cooperation without forcing a frightened animal into a new situation. The article does not compare this approach with other training systems or claim that every pig mastered every skill. It presents training as part of preparation: residents practiced behaviors that could make adoption and later handling safer and less stressful.
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People, volunteers and the goal of adoption
Marshall’s Piggy Paradise was portrayed as temporary housing for pigs who had lost their homes. Volunteers socialized the pigs, and the feature connected that work to preparation for adoption. A friendly pig might interact with visitors in the green-collar area; another might need quieter, one-on-one contact in the social-butterfly area. Both forms of attention served the larger goal of helping a pig live successfully with people.
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The account does not provide current volunteer requirements, tour availability, visitor rules or adoption listings. It would be inaccurate to infer those details from a 2018 feature. The lasting point is narrower and clearer: human contact was organized around each pig’s temperament and needs, and socialization was treated as preparation for a home rather than entertainment for visitors.
The story behind Best Friends’ first pig
Best Friends’ organizational history identifies Mollie as its first pig. Her family lost their home for her because of “no pigs” zoning, a story that echoes the zoning-related surrenders described in the Piggy Paradise feature. The history places the Sanctuary in Angel Canyon and recounts the organization’s early sanctuary mission.
Mollie’s story provides context for why a sanctuary might be needed, but it does not prove that she was the direct origin of every later program at Marshall’s Piggy Paradise. The feature is about the 2018 care setting; the organizational history is broader. Keeping those claims separate avoids turning one animal’s story into an unsupported institutional timeline.
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What this account can—and cannot—tell a pig owner
The 2018 description offers a useful framework for thinking about comprehensive pig care. It places five needs side by side: compatible social contact, shelter suited to weather, a fiber-focused diet, preventive veterinary work and enrichment with training. A facility that supplies food but no rooting opportunities would meet only part of that picture; a large pasture without hoof and dental care would also be incomplete.
- Social life: pigs were grouped by compatibility, age, energy and special needs rather than treated as interchangeable.
- Housing: houses provided dry shelter, with heating, air-conditioning or hay for nesting depending on the space.
- Food: the reported menu emphasized high fiber and low sugar, with pellets, vegetables and seasonal produce.
- Health: annual wellness work included hoof trims, blood work and dental care, with more frequent attention for some older or special-needs pigs.
- Behavior: rooting, wallowing, puzzles, games, walks and human contact gave residents meaningful activity.
- Adoption preparation: positive-reinforcement lessons covered practical handling skills such as kenneling and ramp use.
At the same time, this is not a universal care standard, a current census or a complete husbandry guide. The population count, food quantities, layout and routines are all tied to the feature’s 2018 reporting. No current count is established here, and no independent statistical study was cited to generalize the sanctuary’s schedule or purchasing quantities to pet pigs everywhere.
Why the “paradise” is more than a pasture
The title’s paradise is best understood as a system of choices. A pig could live with other pigs, but only in a group selected for compatibility. It could eat vegetables, but within a low-sugar, high-fiber plan anchored by pellets. It could receive affection, but also learn to enter a kennel or climb a ramp. It could enjoy mud and dirt, while still receiving hoof trims, dental care, blood work and wellness checks.
That combination is what made the setting distinctive in the feature. Marshall’s Piggy Paradise was not presented as a guarantee that every pig would have the same experience forever, nor as proof that one sanctuary’s arrangements fit every animal. It was a reported snapshot of a place trying to meet social, physical and behavioral needs at the same time—and to move residents toward homes where those needs could continue to be met.
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