My 11 year old really wants a pig for Christmas. About a week ago we went to this strange place(kind of like a pumpkin patch) there was this little pig in a box my son figured it out that it was a pig but I couldn't. The lady there asked if he wanted to hold it and he right away said yes. After that that is all he looks at and tells everyone. Should I get him a Micro pig?
The fact that you are asking this question here instead of researching the subject online is a huge sign that you should not get a pig.
A quick google search produces a million other reasons not to.
https://www.thedodo.com/whats-misleading-about-the-tea-84...
No, I wouldn't get him one unless it was a stuffed toy.
If he really wants a pet why not start with a dog or cat, but even with one of those animals he should be responsible to take care of it and you should be prepared to take care of it too.
Absolutely not. It will not stay small. Most all pigs taken in as cute baby pets grow into normal pig size and end up abandoned, neglected, abused or euthanized. They don't cuddle like dogs or cats and you could find they get bored (pigs are smart creatures) and start eating your cupboards or furniture legs - no joke. Please research this and you will see what we are all talking about.
If it costs less than about $4000, it's not a micro pig, and will grow much bigger than you are prepared for. Even if you pay 4 grand you may get swindled.
Pigs live for a long time. They are a lot of work. They really do better on a farm. Do you live in the country?
And as someone below mentioned, it is an absolute lie that if you don't feed a pig much it will stay small. If you starve a pig, you end up with a huge, starving pig. I know, I rescued one once.
If you really live in San Francisco, that's no place for a pig. And unless you personally want to take care of a pig for 20 years, you need to tell your boy no. In a few years he'll be all into girls and parties, and will have little interest in a pig.
No, my word, if he looked at a car and liked it would you run out and buy him one? That is a living creature and neither you or your son have any idea of its needs.
Absolutely no to the pig. It should just stay a special memory of the kind-of pumpkin patch.
well, no. living creatures require a) the research and knowledge necessary to keep them happy and healthy and b) the commitment to keep them throughout their lives.
this comes across very much as 'whim.'
khairete
S.
I've never gotten animals for my children (or myself for that matter) on a whim. Some live for a very long time. Our last cat almost made it to 20. You have to really be prepared for everything (the good, the bad and the ugly). When they get sick - you're still responsible and when they age too. Is your son going to still want to care for this pig down the road? Do the research, talk to people who have them as pets, go from there. When I presented my kids with all the info they needed to decide if they were willing, they said no - they are far too busy with hockey, friends, etc. to care for an animal. Unless of course you're prepared to do it all. Then do you want a pig for x amount of years ... and I agree with Mommy of 1 and Cheysma - they grow.
Good luck :)
Heck no. They are 60lbs as adults and uuuugly. The shine will wear off very fast.
In my experience, kids ALWAYS want a cute little pet - kitten, puppy, micro pig, bunny, etc. - and within short order, they get bored with the animal and it's either neglected or the parents wind up with the responsibility. The shelters fill up by the end of January with puppies and kittens as well as more exotic animals like pigs, and in May with bunnies and ducklings. Impulse buys never, ever work out.
My suggestion is this - instead of letting a child jump from "holding a cute animal" to "adopting one for life", start researching. First, evaluate your child: has he shown responsibility for other animals in the past? Does he have a strong track record of caring for anything over a period of time? Does anyone in your family know anything about pigs? Do you know what they eat, what care they require, what the expenses are for food and bedding and veterinary care and shots, what sort of interaction they require? Is your child prepared to give up after school activities to come home right away to care for a pig? Who will care for the pig while he is in school? Is his plan just to put a pig in a pen and leave it there, maybe holding it for 5 minutes a day? Is this a good life for a pig?
Have you spoken to a vet about pigs' care and longevity? Do you have other family pets that you need to factor in? Do you know what the investment would be for proper "accommodations" as well as vaccinations and well visits in addition to illness and injury? Have you checked your town/city ordinances to find out what the regulations are?
My suggestion for any child who wants a pet (unless the parents are taking on all of the responsibility) is to spend time in a shelter, volunteering with homeless animals who are lacking in attention and affection. These animals really need the care, and if a child can't stick with it, then they aren't ready for a pet at home.
A pet is a life-long commitment - higher level animals cannot be re-homed easily. They suffer stress and abandonment. That means cats, dogs, higher level mammals, etc. Turtles and gerbils can be re-homed (if you can find someone interested) but other animals form attachments with their owners and you must assume that you will have this animal for all of its natural life. There's nothing in your post that says you are remotely ready for this - although please do update us if you have extensive pet experience with your son. Then we can be more specific.
No to the pig. Please check your city's ordinances. Some cities consider pigs farm animals and not allowed. If he wants a pet try a fish.
I would hold off on the pig. Do your research and present the reason why it is not a good time. Get him a fish or something else smaller to build up to a larger animal that he is responsible for.
Pumpkin patches are neat at this time of year. I vote with the rest to not get a pig at this time.
the other S.
I've heard that some of those pigs get HUGE and you don't know how bit it will get until you have a giant pig living in your house.
My husband tells a story about his mom wanting pigs when he was younger. She got two. They grew, they pooped, he scooped, they were no longer cute, they were too big, they went with his uncle, and well, use your imagination.
Off the top of my head I'd have to say no.
SO MANY pot bellied pigs were brought home as pets and then when they grew up into adult pigs they were abandoned or needed to find rescue homes for them.
After Googling 'micro pig' I found this (micro pig is also called a teacup pig):
http://modernfarmer.com/2014/03/never-buy-teacup-pig/
You can't starve a pig to keep it small.
Do you live on a farm?
Do you have a pig pen?
Do you live somewhere that is zoned for farm animals?
This animal is NOT going to be a house pet, at least not for very long and it will grow to weigh as much as a Great Dane.
Baby piggies grow into adult boars and sows - and when they are old enough for mating behaviors, you are not going to be so in love with this pet.
Spare your son the heartache, spare yourself the frustration, and spare the animal the cruelty - just don't buy it unless you are prepared to be a real live pig farmer.
You should only get him a pig if YOU want a pig, because chances are, YOU will be the one taking care of it.
check with the laws in your area, we ahve a neighborhood covenant that states were not allowed to have animals except for a cat or a dog...
The question is do you want to get the family a micro pig for Christmas. No, you should not get an 11 year old a pet that is only theirs, no matter what the animal is because at 11 they should not be solely responsible for a pet. The care should be the responsibility of the entire family. The decision to get a pet and what animal should be should be made by the whole family.
I don't know a lot about the care of micro pigs. Do some research to see if it is something you will be able to care for and provide a safe and happy home for. You may find that you aren't able to once you learn more.
If the entire family wants to get a pet and a micro pig is what you all agree on then go for it!
This was all the craze years ago, and people were buying them as piglets, being told that they would get only so big, and it was a lie. All of a sudden they had large animals in their homes.
Don't do it.
Hi L.,
To me this is the same "should I get a pet for my child" question. I think the actual animal is immaterial to the decision. And as with all there are benefits and drawbacks. It will teach him some responsibility. However, you know you will shoulder the majority of the work and all of the expense. Do you have a house/property that would accomodate such an animal? And do they make good pets to begin with? Just like with our kids, we're not having babies, we're having future adults and my primary suggestion would be to make this decision very carefully after you've established your household, financial and logistical priorities. :-) S.
Check the laws regarding this sort of farm pet in your area. Laws that pertain to every sort of animal should be on your town/cities books.
I can have goats that are...wethered but they still have to be at least 100 feet from my neighbors homes, on all sides. A friend had chickens and they were the correct distance and such but they were escape artists and the rooster was noisy. The city made them get rid of them.
Another friend had a pot bellied pig in their back yard. Their grandma sent it. It was the coolest pet ever! They're really really smart.
But as time passed, like a month or two, the pig was pretty much a forgotten pet and since it didn't come in the house along with the dogs and cats it was sent off to live somewhere else before it was completely forgotten and left to die.
So, if you don't mind being it's caregiver. If you don't mind cleaning up after it. If you don't mind feeding it and talking to it and basically being it's friend then say no. Or have it and have a plan where it can go live in it's forever home if it doesn't work out in your situation. Then he can still go see it and enjoy it but have no further responsibilities.
