As far back as I can remember, I have loved pigs. I'm not really sure why I love them; I've seen several porcine-related episodes of Dirty Jobs, and they're certainly not the tidiest or most charming critters. Still, I think they're adorable. When it became trendy to keep pot-bellied pigs as pets a few years ago, I wanted one desperately...that is, until I actually met one.
I had been out to a bar with a couple of co-workers one January Saturday night. We ran into some friends-of-friends, a group of college guys, and ended the evening hanging out at their place. I can't really remember what brought the conversation around to their pet, but one of the guys said, "We have a pot-bellied pig." You do? Squee!! Where? No sooner had the words "in the back yard" come out of his mouth than I was out the door, looking for some sign of a pet pig. Mind you, I completely disregarded the fact that it was after midnight, the guys' house was in a suburb (and therefore surrounded by close neighbors) and it was about ten degrees. Nothing was going to stop me from petting a pig.
I somehow found the pen in the dark, squee-ing all the way (did I mention that I may not have been entirely sober?). The pig had come to the gate, probably to see who was making such a ruckus at that time of night. I was just sticking my hand through the gate to pet him when, simultaneously, I heard, "DON'T!" and felt a CHOMP. The pig, the one that I was so excited to meet, had bitten me! The guy explained that the pig lived outside because he wasn't very friendly, and I wasn't the only person he had chomped. I was crushed. I had no idea pigs could be ill-tempered. The bite didn't hurt much at the time (tipsy, you know) but my fingers were really sore the next morning. That day, I gave up my hopes of having a pet pig. Since then, I don't really trust them, so I just squee over them from afar.
So, there you go. Yet another weird thing that has happened to me. I don't know anyone else who has been bitten by a pig. Have you ever had a close encounter with a barnyard animal?
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5 comments:
Thank Neptune I can say no. No I have never been bitten by a barnyard animal unless a cat counts. I've been nipped by my cats but they've always been warning nips.
I never thought about it, but now that I have I didn't realize pigs had teeth. That sounds really lame now that I've said it, but it's true. I didn't realize they had teeth and they could be betches.
I'm surprised they kept an ill-tempered pig as a pet. What's the point of cleaning up after a pig if it's not going to be cordial?
And didn't the pig freeze in 10-degree weather?
Aw! I'm sorry your pig experience wasn't all you dreamed it would be. Is it wrong that I laughed a little when you came to the "Chomp" part? I only laughed because I knew you weren't seriously hurt.
cg: I never really thought about it, but the pig may have been grumpy *because* he had to stay outside in 10-degree weather. It would certainly make me cross--I hate to be cold.
JD: No, I'm glad you laughed at the chomp! If my story can make you laugh, it was worth the nom-med fingers.
You got bit by the bacon? Ohn, no!
suzicate: Yup, sure did. It made me glad I never decided to give up eating delicious bacon just because pigs are cute. :)
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