Yoga Animalia: Porcine - Harry Bob

Ching Farm Rescue & Sanctuary, Herriman, Utah

Ear tufts maketh the pig. Meeting Harry Bob and the other Bobs who call Ching home on my first visit introduced me to a group of distinct new pig friends of which I had previously been unaware: pigs used as laboratory subjects. Harry Bob and his cohorts had been bred for experiments; their smaller size making them easier to deal with compared to a full grown farm pig. Originally imported to zoos in the 1960's as a novelty, miniature pig breeds like the Yucatan Black to which Harry Bob belongs were also then taken into research laboratories due to the similarity between pig and human DNA. Experiments ranged from toxicology studies to the effects of aging to outright organ harvesting for transplant, but these studies did not highlight the amazing intellectual capacity of porcine kind. Luckily for this troop, Ching was able to secure their release to the sanctuary. Whenever I visit it is a joy to watch them roam the grounds, sun bathe, and create mud holes in inappropriate places, bedecking themselves in mud. Harry Bob and his other Bob cohorts inspect the grounds for treats and stick their snouts in everyone’s business, keeping tabs on the sanctuary happenings. When I visit it makes me gleeful to pick out Harry Bob's wild ear tufts amongst the group.