After months of treatment and lots of TLC, Joaquin has recovered as much as his body allows. He has a distinct walk to his hind end, due to the injury on his spine.
We were told that we shouldn’t put him in with the big pigs, for fear he might be re injured, so it was a constant stress for us because we really didn’t have room for another pig, let alone a special needs pig.
Well, I went with my gut feeling, and started introducing Joaquin in slowly with the other pigs, knowing that it wasn’t going to be easy. Pigs, like all animals have to establish their dominance, so Joaquin was pushed around by Jimmy, Seamus, Pearl and Roberta. The only one that left him alone, was Charlotte.
I would put him in longer and longer every day and walk around with him to help socialize him with the others. Once I left him on his own with everyone, he would stand at the gate and scream loudly to be with us. It was absolutely heartbreaking to hear him, but I knew it had to be done. He needed to be with the other pigs!
After weeks of slowly integrating him in with the others, this picture says it all…. Joaquin sleeping with Pearl and Charlotte last night.
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That’s such a sweet story Siobhan! He needed your love and patience – and that’s what he’s getting 🙂