This Couple Thought They Adopted A Mini-Pig, But It Grew Up Into 670 Pounds Of Cuteness
Life can sometimes give you a blessing in disguise! When Steve Jenkins and Derek Walter in Canada adopted Esther the pig, they thought she was a pygmy piglet. Two years and 667 lbs later, their “tiny piglet” turned out to be a full-size commercial pig, but the love and friendship that they experienced from Esther had already changed their lives for the better.
When they realized how intelligent and friendly Esther was (pigs are as smart as dogs, and considered by many to be cleaner animals), they couldn’t stomach the idea that they were eating other pigs that were just as smart and friendly, so they became vegans. They were so deeply affected by their life with Esther, in fact, that they were inspired to devote their loves to building an animal shelter.
Read on between the photos for more info!
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When Steve and Derek adopted Esther, she weighed just 3 pounds
Two years later, this little piggy weighs in at 670 pounds!
The couple decided to keep her anyway…
… and it was the best decision ever!
Esther gets along with her flatmates just fine
Here they are playing together
When Steve and Derek saw how friendly and smart pigs could get, they stopped eating meat
The two dads became vegans and decided to dedicate their lives to opening an animal sanctuary
They raised $440,225 on Indiegogo to get started!
Their story certainly is beautiful and inspiring…
…but they say that raising a pig is not for everyone
It can be really tiring!
Esther requires a LOT of food and attention
This little piggie has become a regular part of the family
Esther has touched her two dads’ hearts and, hopefully, she’ll touch your heart too!
1.6Mviews
Share on FacebookHad 600pigs & some full of personality others genius. Some were downright charming. Their environment is a major factor of their behaviour.
Yep, and this is probably the cleanest normal pig in the history :D http://softchamp.com/news/top-10-google-searches-2014/
Load More Replies...Wonderful story, proud of them for going vegan!! Esther, the racoon, cat and dogs are very fortunate to have KIND humans around them.
Yeah I have raised pigs for pork and no longer do because some were so nice. Others were not nice or friendly. Too sad, so no more pigs here
Beautiful story. Esther, along with her siblings and friends are so very lucky to have such loving Dads
We share over 98% Dna with pigs and can put their organs into our bodies so how can we justify the cruel subjugation of mass pig production
Awww. Bless them for saving her. I gave up all pork products for 2014 and I don't ever want to go back. Pigs are smart, wonderful animals.
I think the fact that Iowa uses horrible gestation crates has made me give up eating any pork products. I love your pig.
Cute! I'm so glad they kept her, although I hope other people reading this see this as a cautionary tale against "minipigs".
I wonder what they feed their dogs and cats? They still need to eat meat (especially the cats, forcing cats to be vegos is just downright cruel).
We have a one year old micro pig. She is 45 lbs. We know she us going to be bigger than the pet store told us.
Very very luckiest pig on earth, thank thank you for opening our heart
I love these two Dads, their menagerie and Esthers corny smile. What a heartwarming story <3
it´s a lovely story, and I think this pig is really luky. It really touch me!!
I met a lovely couple a couple years ago who also bought a microPig that grew up to be 500 pounds lol
Are you selling pictures of her...the one with Esther in the snow is amazing...would love a copy...
All animal has a soul should be treated with respect and compation I am vegan
You guys ever heard of Taenia solium? Baylisascaris procyonis? Good lord, have mercy on this family!
as Curtis implied I am alarmed that anyone can get paid $8797 in 4 weeks on the computer . visit this website ---->www.Cash-Review.com
Wonderful. Good for her dads. I hope their sanctuary is peaceful, plentiful, and full of joy.
I believe when an animal is happy you can see it in their face, and that pig is definitely a happy piggy lol
I love it!!! How lucky are they to have such a beautiful animal in their lives and to become vegans!
Wow! That soo touchin!! I have same as you but he is lived outside so his name is Tugger :)
what's wrong with cheese and eggs? I get being a lactoovarian, but vitamin b and iron are lacking in the vegan diet. and flavor. that too
Awesome story, Never thought someone would go vegan. We make vegetable food fresh every single day in our family.
I think it's sweet and wonderful and amazing for them all. I can't believe how big she is! She's intimidating, but pretty and very clean.
Children's book!!! Here's a title idea ..."Esther finds her forever home."
the softness in the expression in the pigs face is so cute, its about time we start seeing the compexity of other animals.
Love from Paris France! Proud of your kindness and for becoming vegan to!
This is truly amazing and inspiring story. This family did an amazing job!
They make great pets, just the same as dogs, they love being around you and that soft leathery nose is so nice.
Wonderful heart warming story. Couldn't imagine my life without our pig.
Pigs are very smart. I love pigs and if that is what they wanted as a pet then so be it
Esther is such a card! I follow her on Facebook and she never ceases to amaze me and make me laugh.
Check out her video on YouTube having a level 4 nuclear meltdown because breakfast was late.
Load More Replies...i want one i own a guinea pig and ive been breeding them for over 19 years but never had a real one....yet i will have one
This must have happened before 1978. That is when Canada switched to the metric system (SI).
Not necessarily, as you know, most of the world uses the metric system, they may have converted it for the sake of the article.
Load More Replies...I thing the are the same souls as dogs cats and etc. Why not if you have money to rise up a pig why not. People must out of a border-society
I wish they would tell me how they keep his eyes so clean, my piggy eyes are always stained with dark stuff and everyone says it's normal.
Why can't you love a pig equal as much as you love a dog? Never judge a book by it's cover. I think pigs are very pretty animals, but a bit
I stopped eating any meat that comes from a pig because it would be like eating my dog. Other people don't understand that.
"In Canada"? That's like saying "in the US"? Where in Canada? City and province?
"In Canada"? That's like saying "in the US"? Where in Canada? City and province?
Ontario. Check this https://www.facebook.com/estherthewonderpig
Load More Replies...I LOVE HER! AND THEM! I had two pet pigs myself, they topped out at 700 and 900 pounds. I still miss them!
Beautiful story...Unfortunately there are still some plant scientists who are students at UCR and Taiwanese and WWE fan who will kill piggy
Beautiful story...Unfortunately there are still some plant scientists who are students at UCR and Taiwanese and WWE fan who will kill piggy
whos cleaning up the poop? How would you like a 600lb person taking several dumps a day in your apartment? Lets see a picture of that!
I'll never be a vegetarian but I can understand the people who choose to be vegetarians. Can someone explain to me why they becaming vegans?
That just made me hungry for a big plate full of bacon. And Ham. And ribs. Oh my!
As soon as I found out it was a full sized pig I would have taken her to the butcher for fresh bacon. Yummy
All those sausages, ham with onion, stuffed cabbage... Half a year's food for a family of 4, walking around all dressed up! :))))))
When I see such unhindered interaction between animals and humans, I am concerned about zoonotic diseases. I mean, ebola is in W. Africa now
lol! you should be more concerned about the diseases you get eating animals.they are epidemic and a far greater threat than ebola.
Load More Replies...Had 600pigs & some full of personality others genius. Some were downright charming. Their environment is a major factor of their behaviour.
Yep, and this is probably the cleanest normal pig in the history :D http://softchamp.com/news/top-10-google-searches-2014/
Load More Replies...Wonderful story, proud of them for going vegan!! Esther, the racoon, cat and dogs are very fortunate to have KIND humans around them.
Yeah I have raised pigs for pork and no longer do because some were so nice. Others were not nice or friendly. Too sad, so no more pigs here
Beautiful story. Esther, along with her siblings and friends are so very lucky to have such loving Dads
We share over 98% Dna with pigs and can put their organs into our bodies so how can we justify the cruel subjugation of mass pig production
Awww. Bless them for saving her. I gave up all pork products for 2014 and I don't ever want to go back. Pigs are smart, wonderful animals.
I think the fact that Iowa uses horrible gestation crates has made me give up eating any pork products. I love your pig.
Cute! I'm so glad they kept her, although I hope other people reading this see this as a cautionary tale against "minipigs".
I wonder what they feed their dogs and cats? They still need to eat meat (especially the cats, forcing cats to be vegos is just downright cruel).
We have a one year old micro pig. She is 45 lbs. We know she us going to be bigger than the pet store told us.
Very very luckiest pig on earth, thank thank you for opening our heart
I love these two Dads, their menagerie and Esthers corny smile. What a heartwarming story <3
it´s a lovely story, and I think this pig is really luky. It really touch me!!
I met a lovely couple a couple years ago who also bought a microPig that grew up to be 500 pounds lol
Are you selling pictures of her...the one with Esther in the snow is amazing...would love a copy...
All animal has a soul should be treated with respect and compation I am vegan
You guys ever heard of Taenia solium? Baylisascaris procyonis? Good lord, have mercy on this family!
as Curtis implied I am alarmed that anyone can get paid $8797 in 4 weeks on the computer . visit this website ---->www.Cash-Review.com
Wonderful. Good for her dads. I hope their sanctuary is peaceful, plentiful, and full of joy.
I believe when an animal is happy you can see it in their face, and that pig is definitely a happy piggy lol
I love it!!! How lucky are they to have such a beautiful animal in their lives and to become vegans!
Wow! That soo touchin!! I have same as you but he is lived outside so his name is Tugger :)
what's wrong with cheese and eggs? I get being a lactoovarian, but vitamin b and iron are lacking in the vegan diet. and flavor. that too
Awesome story, Never thought someone would go vegan. We make vegetable food fresh every single day in our family.
I think it's sweet and wonderful and amazing for them all. I can't believe how big she is! She's intimidating, but pretty and very clean.
Children's book!!! Here's a title idea ..."Esther finds her forever home."
the softness in the expression in the pigs face is so cute, its about time we start seeing the compexity of other animals.
Love from Paris France! Proud of your kindness and for becoming vegan to!
This is truly amazing and inspiring story. This family did an amazing job!
They make great pets, just the same as dogs, they love being around you and that soft leathery nose is so nice.
Wonderful heart warming story. Couldn't imagine my life without our pig.
Pigs are very smart. I love pigs and if that is what they wanted as a pet then so be it
Esther is such a card! I follow her on Facebook and she never ceases to amaze me and make me laugh.
Check out her video on YouTube having a level 4 nuclear meltdown because breakfast was late.
Load More Replies...i want one i own a guinea pig and ive been breeding them for over 19 years but never had a real one....yet i will have one
This must have happened before 1978. That is when Canada switched to the metric system (SI).
Not necessarily, as you know, most of the world uses the metric system, they may have converted it for the sake of the article.
Load More Replies...I thing the are the same souls as dogs cats and etc. Why not if you have money to rise up a pig why not. People must out of a border-society
I wish they would tell me how they keep his eyes so clean, my piggy eyes are always stained with dark stuff and everyone says it's normal.
Why can't you love a pig equal as much as you love a dog? Never judge a book by it's cover. I think pigs are very pretty animals, but a bit
I stopped eating any meat that comes from a pig because it would be like eating my dog. Other people don't understand that.
"In Canada"? That's like saying "in the US"? Where in Canada? City and province?
"In Canada"? That's like saying "in the US"? Where in Canada? City and province?
Ontario. Check this https://www.facebook.com/estherthewonderpig
Load More Replies...I LOVE HER! AND THEM! I had two pet pigs myself, they topped out at 700 and 900 pounds. I still miss them!
Beautiful story...Unfortunately there are still some plant scientists who are students at UCR and Taiwanese and WWE fan who will kill piggy
Beautiful story...Unfortunately there are still some plant scientists who are students at UCR and Taiwanese and WWE fan who will kill piggy
whos cleaning up the poop? How would you like a 600lb person taking several dumps a day in your apartment? Lets see a picture of that!
I'll never be a vegetarian but I can understand the people who choose to be vegetarians. Can someone explain to me why they becaming vegans?
That just made me hungry for a big plate full of bacon. And Ham. And ribs. Oh my!
As soon as I found out it was a full sized pig I would have taken her to the butcher for fresh bacon. Yummy
All those sausages, ham with onion, stuffed cabbage... Half a year's food for a family of 4, walking around all dressed up! :))))))
When I see such unhindered interaction between animals and humans, I am concerned about zoonotic diseases. I mean, ebola is in W. Africa now
lol! you should be more concerned about the diseases you get eating animals.they are epidemic and a far greater threat than ebola.
Load More Replies...
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