Couple Thinks They Adopted A Mini-Pig, Keeps Her As A Pet Even After It Grows To Be 650 Lbs
Move over ‘Babe’ there is a new piggy capturing hearts across the world – Esther the Wonder Pig. When Canada residents Steve Jenkins and Derek Walter adopted Esther the pig, they thought they had purchased one of those mini pigs, but ended up with more than they bargained for. Two years and 650 lbs later, their “tiny piglet” turned out to be a full-size commercial pig. Despite the massive surprise the love and friendship that they experienced from Esther the pet pig changed their lives for the better.
Esther not only changed their lives but their lifestyle choices. When they realized how intelligent and friendly this adorable animal was (pigs are as smart as dogs, and considered by many to be even cleaner animals), they couldn’t stomach the idea that they were eating other farm animals that were just as smart and friendly as their pet, and became vegans. The couple motivated to help more animals, and in need of more space opened up their own animal sanctuary on a farm. Jenkins and Walters aren’t the only ones infatuated with their big baby, Esther has 516k followers on Instagram and was named animal influencer of the year last years 13th annual Libby Awards – which recognizes brands, celebrities, and companies that are committed to animals.
After conquering social media this adorable pet now has her sights set on Hollywood, however, in the past year, there have been some struggles.
More info: Instagram | Facebook | estherthewonderpig.com | youtube.com
Esther the pig was only 3 pounds when Steve Jenkins agreed to adopt her
Image credits: www.instagram.com
According to their website, in the summer of 2012 Jenkins was contacted by an old friend to ask if he would be interested in adopting a micro piglet. He knew his partner Derek would be apprehensive about the new farm animal pet, but agreed to take it in anyway – after all, he could take care of the little piglet himself – wrong he was.
Image credits: www.instagram.com
Jenkins explained to the Washington Post that he had originally thought owning Esther would be like having a third dog and since he had been promised she would not grow to more than 70lbs. Not only would the real estate agent have to face talking to his partner, but the laws of the town did not permit owning hooved animals.
Image credits: www.instagram.com
When Walter laid eyes on the tiny pig in a blanket he was not pleased but it didn’t take long for him to warm up, “The first couple of weeks, we had this baby animal in our house,” Jenkins said. “Anybody that has a bleeding heart loves baby animals; you can’t help but fall in love,” Jenkins told WP.
Image credits: www.instagram.com
The first person to tip them off that they had taken in more than they bargained for was the vet, “He told me, ‘I’m pretty sure you’re dealing with a commercial pig here, She could get to be 250 pounds.”
Image credits: www.instagram.com
Unable to get in contact with the previous owner to find out more about the pig’s genetic background the couple realized they would just have to make room.
Image credits: www.instagram.com
The petit piggy they were promised grew into a 650lb, full-sized, commercial pig. Even with her enormous girth, Esther is a now domesticated house pig. When they first brought her home the pair lived in a three-bedroom house in Georgetown, a hamlet of Ontario, Canada.
Image credits: www.instagram.com
“She was incredible from the day we brought her home, super clever,” Jenkins told the outlet. “We’d see an intelligence in her we didn’t even see in our dogs.”
Image credits: www.instagram.com
Without any training, she learned how to open doors, cabinets and even the refrigerator. The intelligent pig was even house trained to use a litter box or go outside.
Image credits: www.instagram.com
Esther filled their lives with joy but continued to grow and at around 18-months had grown to 420lbs. They were distraught at the idea of getting rid of her.
Image credits: www.instagram.com
Jenkins and Walters weren’t the only ones falling more and more in love with the pig. They had started a Facebook page for her and her follower count was growing by the thousands.
Image credits: www.instagram.com
The couple couldn’t ignore their growing problem any longer, “We knew what we had to do. How we were living wasn’t fair to her.” It was time to move out.
Image credits: www.instagram.com
They found a 50-acre farm located about 40 minutes away from their house. However, the property cost a small fortune – listed at $1 million. Putting their faith in the communities love for Esther they created a crowdfunding site, with a goal of $400,000 to purchase a new home for her. Within two months, they managed to rais $440,000 from 9,000 people in 44 countries.
Image credits: www.instagram.com
In November 2014, they relocated to the new Campbellsville farmhouse and named it Happily Ever Esther Farm Sanctuary. Esther was the first farm animal tenant but soon, with the help of animal experts, they fixed the place up and brought in a cow, horses, goats and another pig.
Image credits: www.instagram.com
But troubles were not over for the family. In 2018 Esther fell ill and was taken to Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), where they discovered she would need a CT scan. Once again her massive size presented a problem – she couldn’t fit into the average machine.
Image credits: www.instagram.com
“We just assumed that they had that sort of equipment and that any university would have that sort of equipment, and so it was a huge shock to find out they didn’t,” Jenkins told the Star. Once again Jenkins and Walter reached out to animal lovers everywhere to help them fundraise to bring in the necessary equipment not just for Esther but the other large animals in the community.
Image credits: www.instagram.com
Within four months they exceeded their goal of $650,000, raising an extra $120,000, which Jenkins said was to be donated to other animal charities and rescue organizations. With the necessary equipment, they discovered she had breast cancer.
Image credits: www.instagram.com
Fortunately, they found the illness when they did and were able to treat Esther with surgery – and she is now cancer free.
Image credits: www.instagram.com
Human or animal Esther and her parents have been through a books worth of adventures – detailed in the New York Times bestseller “Esther the Wonder Pig,” written by her owners.
Image credits: www.instagram.com
But it doesn’t stop there. Esther is making her way from the social media screen to the movie screen. The Hollywood film production company the Donners, the producers behind the X-men series and Free Willy are collaborating to turn Esther the Wonder Pig book into a movie.
Image credits: www.instagram.com
Image credits: www.instagram.com
Image credits: www.instagram.com
Image credits: www.instagram.com
Image credits: www.instagram.com
Image credits: www.instagram.com
Image credits: www.instagram.com
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Mini pigs aren't really a thing. They are 'made' through deception, i.e breeding two very young pigs so that when someone sees a piglet and it's 'small' parents they think it's legit, when if fact it's just 4 or 5 month old normal pigs are having piglets. Or, they starve pigs so that their growth is stunted and they have all kinds of medical issues. Or they keep in-breeding pigs so that they eventually get piglets that are deformed and small. The whole thing is a con and terrible. Please don't advocate so called 'mini pigs'.
Even the "Vietnamese" pigs???? I didn't know that. I read about the "toy" varieties in dogs, which are an unnatural selection and inbreeding of the smallest and weakest puppies in the litter, giving sickly animals as a result. But I didn't realise the same could happen to other species. Is there a limit to human greed and cruelty?
Load More Replies...
That's so awesome. They love her like a bigger dog and she seems to be so very happy! Lovely animal and beautiful ppl!!!
Bless their hearts (and all crowdfunding contributors) for all they've done for Esther! I saw an episode of "Miracle Pets" where a woman had a stroke or heart attack in her home, but remained conscious. Her dog just barked and barked, but her pet pig went outside the house, periodically coming back to check on her. It was lying down in the middle of the road in front of the house, so a man in a car had to stop. The pig ran into the house; the man followed it and summoned help for the woman, who lived to tell the tale.
I don't like pigs in general. Having said this, pigs are said to be very intelligent creatures, and also very clean if they are given the right conditions. The photos also show a really affectionate animal, just like a dog. She's adorable!
Pigs are not like dogs. It's true that pigs are very intelligents like dogs, but with different type of intelligence. I have a friend with a pig as pet (in a country house), and I can see how pigs are less affectionable animals than dogs. Dogs come to you to get affection, to play, and take attention to your orders and look at your eyes when you talk. Pigs only come to you for food, and always are looking for food, is its only objective, and never look at your eyes or you have the sense that they are listen you. Pigs are much more primal and instinctive animals, have intelligence for search food, and resolve problems (open doors, break things...) for food. But you can love a pig as a pet, like you can love a bird or fish.
Load More Replies...
Micro/mini pigs DON'T EXIST, folks. I'm so glad Esther found a loving forever family, because a lot of other pigs being deceptively sold as "mini" (despite being nothing of the sort, but rather just very young) don't have the same luck and end up getting dumped. As always, if you're going to take in an animal, PLEASE do your research. Yay for Esther!
This is a common scam. There are small breeds of pig, but "small" is a relative term - the smallest breeds still get up to about 300 pounds. Scam breeders will sell a piglet that is actually too young and pass it off as a mini-pig.
there is no mini pig, ive seen them get big, and they can destroy your house worse then a dog who feels he isnt being stimulated
I hear about mini dogs and pigs that end up as full sized when they have grown up. What caught my attention was in the kitchen. It looks like the big pig might have caused a lot of damage. To me, it looks like the door on the dishwasher is messed up, as well as the bottom drawer of the stove. Unless I am seeing things.
I just looked at the picture again and it looks like the oven door is broken.
Load More Replies...
I lost my darling Australian miniature pig Clemmy ,last week,after a short illness. I am totally heartbroken and cried all the way through this story.But what it does show, is that pigs are just the most wonderful pets.They are funny ,playful and have such empathy.So many pigs are dumped,given away or sold on (only to end up in someone's freezer :'( ),when people realize that they are getting much bigger than they expected,or are a lot of work.Even a miniature pig grows up to 90 or so kgs.So please,before even concidering getting one,do your research.But ,for all of that ,as Esther's owners found ,pigs are awesome and will change your life <3 DSCF9960-5...15e660.jpg 
She was actually a commercial pig. Commercial pigs have their tails cut off so that they cannot tear at each other's tails from stress when they are crammed together under horrible conditions at factory farms.
Load More Replies...
I'm sorry but I just cannot find it in me to think of those massive pigs as cute ever since o e Chase's me up a tree. It wasn't a pet, but oddly vicious!
Thankfully, there are people in this world who are more thoughtful and compassionate than you, and are trying to do good. Also, since you love bacon so much, go check out some undercover factory farm videos. You should be able to stomach them, since bacon is oh so important to you, right? Oh, you can't bring yourself to watch those horrible videos? Then you are avoiding the hard cold truth of what is on your plate and how it got there.
Load More Replies...
I keep forgetting how large pigs can be until I see them dwarfing dogs and people like that.
Who knew a giant pig could be a cash cow? Hey, if people are willing to give you over a million bucks because you have an unusual pet, have at it.
Just for clarification they did NOT get Esther in hopes of making money, they got Esther as a pet and their story went viral.
Load More Replies...
I love these two guys and LOVE Esther. Been following them for years on FB - their posts make my heart smile =)
I am so touched that the owners followed through and kept the piggy! I wasn't aware that pigs could even get that big!!
It got me teary eyed. Couldn't imagine eating pork meals with such an adorable pet at home. It's just so sad how some people couldn't think of them more than a mere contribution to food chain.
Luv luv luv this. The pig is sooooo very happy. Luv the dress ups. Good on you for not giving up due to size. Big Thankyou for being a decent person. Xxx
What a happy ending! This couple went to the ends of the earth to help Esther and that is what you are suppose to do when take on the responsibility of a pet. There should be a special thanks out to all of the people who sent money from their Go Fund Me. Those are some very special, caring people.
I love these guys - been following them on FB for years. their posts just make my heart smile =)
Esther is the whole reason why I own a pot belly pig now. He is the best pet I have ever had. He is a house pig. He like forced heating and central air. He goes in an out the doggy door for all day with my real dogs.
I love these guys. The turkey Cornelius is the most NEEDY love bug ever!
This is why I try very hard not to eat pigs or cows. Amazingly intelligent creatures.
I think it's sad that all sorts of money was spent on an animal. When there are so many humans neglected.
Bit gender confused, isn't it....? Alas, I hear pig tastes just like human c**k.....
I am going to make poor life choices so that I can go crowdsource my way into getting people to buy me property...
Oh my god that is such a horrible thing to say! Please grow up!
Load More Replies...
Grow up. These people are doing more good for animal welfare than you are. Your mom is not the issue here, so why are you even bringing her up? Because your mom needed a house these two men should have what--given you the money instead? They opened an animal sanctuary with that money. They are doing good things for animals all over the world, and that is much more important than one woman no one has even heard of owning a house. Not everything is about you.
Load More Replies...
It's not disgusting, pigs are very intelligent and clean animals. As well as being adorable.
Load More Replies... Mini pigs aren't really a thing. They are 'made' through deception, i.e breeding two very young pigs so that when someone sees a piglet and it's 'small' parents they think it's legit, when if fact it's just 4 or 5 month old normal pigs are having piglets. Or, they starve pigs so that their growth is stunted and they have all kinds of medical issues. Or they keep in-breeding pigs so that they eventually get piglets that are deformed and small. The whole thing is a con and terrible. Please don't advocate so called 'mini pigs'.
Even the "Vietnamese" pigs???? I didn't know that. I read about the "toy" varieties in dogs, which are an unnatural selection and inbreeding of the smallest and weakest puppies in the litter, giving sickly animals as a result. But I didn't realise the same could happen to other species. Is there a limit to human greed and cruelty?
Load More Replies... That's so awesome. They love her like a bigger dog and she seems to be so very happy! Lovely animal and beautiful ppl!!!
Bless their hearts (and all crowdfunding contributors) for all they've done for Esther! I saw an episode of "Miracle Pets" where a woman had a stroke or heart attack in her home, but remained conscious. Her dog just barked and barked, but her pet pig went outside the house, periodically coming back to check on her. It was lying down in the middle of the road in front of the house, so a man in a car had to stop. The pig ran into the house; the man followed it and summoned help for the woman, who lived to tell the tale.
I don't like pigs in general. Having said this, pigs are said to be very intelligent creatures, and also very clean if they are given the right conditions. The photos also show a really affectionate animal, just like a dog. She's adorable!
Pigs are not like dogs. It's true that pigs are very intelligents like dogs, but with different type of intelligence. I have a friend with a pig as pet (in a country house), and I can see how pigs are less affectionable animals than dogs. Dogs come to you to get affection, to play, and take attention to your orders and look at your eyes when you talk. Pigs only come to you for food, and always are looking for food, is its only objective, and never look at your eyes or you have the sense that they are listen you. Pigs are much more primal and instinctive animals, have intelligence for search food, and resolve problems (open doors, break things...) for food. But you can love a pig as a pet, like you can love a bird or fish.
Load More Replies... Micro/mini pigs DON'T EXIST, folks. I'm so glad Esther found a loving forever family, because a lot of other pigs being deceptively sold as "mini" (despite being nothing of the sort, but rather just very young) don't have the same luck and end up getting dumped. As always, if you're going to take in an animal, PLEASE do your research. Yay for Esther!
This is a common scam. There are small breeds of pig, but "small" is a relative term - the smallest breeds still get up to about 300 pounds. Scam breeders will sell a piglet that is actually too young and pass it off as a mini-pig.
there is no mini pig, ive seen them get big, and they can destroy your house worse then a dog who feels he isnt being stimulated
I hear about mini dogs and pigs that end up as full sized when they have grown up. What caught my attention was in the kitchen. It looks like the big pig might have caused a lot of damage. To me, it looks like the door on the dishwasher is messed up, as well as the bottom drawer of the stove. Unless I am seeing things.
I just looked at the picture again and it looks like the oven door is broken.
Load More Replies... I lost my darling Australian miniature pig Clemmy ,last week,after a short illness. I am totally heartbroken and cried all the way through this story.But what it does show, is that pigs are just the most wonderful pets.They are funny ,playful and have such empathy.So many pigs are dumped,given away or sold on (only to end up in someone's freezer :'( ),when people realize that they are getting much bigger than they expected,or are a lot of work.Even a miniature pig grows up to 90 or so kgs.So please,before even concidering getting one,do your research.But ,for all of that ,as Esther's owners found ,pigs are awesome and will change your life <3 DSCF9960-5...15e660.jpg
She was actually a commercial pig. Commercial pigs have their tails cut off so that they cannot tear at each other's tails from stress when they are crammed together under horrible conditions at factory farms.
Load More Replies... I'm sorry but I just cannot find it in me to think of those massive pigs as cute ever since o e Chase's me up a tree. It wasn't a pet, but oddly vicious!
Thankfully, there are people in this world who are more thoughtful and compassionate than you, and are trying to do good. Also, since you love bacon so much, go check out some undercover factory farm videos. You should be able to stomach them, since bacon is oh so important to you, right? Oh, you can't bring yourself to watch those horrible videos? Then you are avoiding the hard cold truth of what is on your plate and how it got there.
Load More Replies... I keep forgetting how large pigs can be until I see them dwarfing dogs and people like that.
Who knew a giant pig could be a cash cow? Hey, if people are willing to give you over a million bucks because you have an unusual pet, have at it.
Just for clarification they did NOT get Esther in hopes of making money, they got Esther as a pet and their story went viral.
Load More Replies... I love these two guys and LOVE Esther. Been following them for years on FB - their posts make my heart smile =)
I am so touched that the owners followed through and kept the piggy! I wasn't aware that pigs could even get that big!!
It got me teary eyed. Couldn't imagine eating pork meals with such an adorable pet at home. It's just so sad how some people couldn't think of them more than a mere contribution to food chain.
Luv luv luv this. The pig is sooooo very happy. Luv the dress ups. Good on you for not giving up due to size. Big Thankyou for being a decent person. Xxx
What a happy ending! This couple went to the ends of the earth to help Esther and that is what you are suppose to do when take on the responsibility of a pet. There should be a special thanks out to all of the people who sent money from their Go Fund Me. Those are some very special, caring people.
I love these guys - been following them on FB for years. their posts just make my heart smile =)
Esther is the whole reason why I own a pot belly pig now. He is the best pet I have ever had. He is a house pig. He like forced heating and central air. He goes in an out the doggy door for all day with my real dogs.
I love these guys. The turkey Cornelius is the most NEEDY love bug ever!
This is why I try very hard not to eat pigs or cows. Amazingly intelligent creatures.
I think it's sad that all sorts of money was spent on an animal. When there are so many humans neglected.
Bit gender confused, isn't it....? Alas, I hear pig tastes just like human c**k.....
I am going to make poor life choices so that I can go crowdsource my way into getting people to buy me property...
Oh my god that is such a horrible thing to say! Please grow up!
Load More Replies... Grow up. These people are doing more good for animal welfare than you are. Your mom is not the issue here, so why are you even bringing her up? Because your mom needed a house these two men should have what--given you the money instead? They opened an animal sanctuary with that money. They are doing good things for animals all over the world, and that is much more important than one woman no one has even heard of owning a house. Not everything is about you.
Load More Replies... It's not disgusting, pigs are very intelligent and clean animals. As well as being adorable.
Load More Replies...
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