BC SPCA: Eddie: Pig in the city

Eddie: Pig in the city

April 12, 2010

There's puppy love, and then there's piggy love.

The latter came over a pig named Eddie during his recent stay in a Kelowna foster home with SPCA volunteers Jesse Legroulx and Lindsay Kern.

"We weren't sure how they would react to each other," says Legroulx, about Eddie's introduction to the couple's resident pig, Fergie. "But two days later, they had pushed through the gate and were hanging out. And by the end of the week, Eddie stopped sleeping in his pen and started bunking with Fergie."

Eddie and Fergie also enjoyed hanging out with Otis, the couple's pet goat, and several horses. Eddie, Fergie and Otis would play together all morning until supper time, then came for dinner when summoned. At night, Eddie and Fergie slept in a heated straw house inside a stall.

"The only trouble we had was trying to keep Otis out of their pen at night," jokes Legroulx.

Legroulx and Kern were asked to foster Eddie after he arrived at the SPCA underweight, sunburnt and fearful of people. The non-profit society relies heavily on a network of foster guardians to help animals like Eddie who require special care, as well as animals who are too young or who need the increased socialization that only a foster home can provide.

Animals recovering from injury are also often fostered.

The SPCA provides food and medical care to fostered animals, but foster families provide the TLC necessary to prepare the animals for adoption.

"We had already been toying with the idea of getting a friend for Fergie when we received the call about Eddie," says Legroulx. "I guess it was meant to be."

During his stay at the ranch, Eddie gained weight and his sunburn healed after a week of aloe treatments by the foster couple. Eddie also became much less afraid of people.

Legroulx is a professional photographer while Kern is a horse trainer and riding coach. Their careers allow them to give extra attention to the animals.

"We really share a passion for animals and are glad to help in any way."

Legroulx is of the BC SPCA's 4,000 volunteers, who work in countless capacities across the province, from walking dogs and cuddling cats to organizing events and fundraising. The BC SPCA salutes these essential volunteers during National Volunteer Week April 18 to 24.

Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age and able to commit to a minimum of two hours a week for six months. Visit our volunteer section for more information on how you can volunteer at the Kelowna Branch of the BC SPCA.

Read the full press release.

If you're not able to volunteer but would like to make a difference for homeless animals in your community, please donate today. Your gift could change a life.

The BC SPCA is a non-profit organization funded primarily by public donations. Our mission is to prevent cruelty and to promote the welfare of animals through a wide range of services, including cruelty investigations, emergency rescue and treatment, sheltering and adoption of homeless and abused animals, humane education, advocacy, farm animal welfare, spay/neuter programs, and wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.