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To say no to visiting pigs for Christmas??

317 replies

PigAuntie · 29/11/2019 18:02

My sister wants to buy my niece and nephew micro pigs for Christmas. They are coming to stay with us for Christmas so she wants to know if she can bring them with her!!!
AIBU to say no because

  • we don’t want pigs running around our house partly due to we have no idea (and neither does she) if They will be chewers/poo everywhere/cry all night plus they are tiny and will be at danger of being stood on
  • we have a 3 bed semi, with 9 people, Xmas tree, extra chairs etc it’s already going to be crowded enough and we don’t have the space to put a pig pen anywhere - the conversatory is already taken over by the guinea pigs cage. (C&C open type)
  • I don’t agree with animals being given as Christmas presents as Christmas is busy and chaotic and full of noise and lights and wrapping paper and choas. I believe a new pet needs to be introduced to a family in a calm and serene environment where they can get used to each other and the animal can retreat to a safe place when they need too
  • I also don’t think any animal should go an3 hour journey unless absolutely necessary or they have got used to car journeys
  • you need a permit to move pigs to another premises and I think are them not allowed to move them again for 20 days!!!
  • Christmas is my favourite time of the year and I don’t want it overshadowed by pigs!
  • we will all be drinking (as is the nature of Xmas day) so I don’t think we should be in charge of tiny piglets when no one knows exactly what they are doing with them.


On a positive note I have found out that DH is the perfect mumsnetter husband, his response was ‘fuck no, that’s all you need to say, just no, don’t need to justify it, we say no that’s it!! So I’m happy to loan him to help people with CF’s!!!
OP posts:
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Am I being unreasonable?

1717 votes. Final results.

POLL
You are being unreasonable
1%
You are NOT being unreasonable
99%
CoffeeWithMyOxygen · 29/11/2019 18:04

Is she aware that micro pigs don’t stay micro forever? Please tell me they live on a farm or a small holding or something where a pig can happily live!

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Butchyrestingface · 29/11/2019 18:05

Does your sister intend to board the hogs for your kids until they come of age 35 and can take over custody?

You are not being remotely unreasonable. However, my cold, dead heart starts to thaw at thought of wee, pink piglets... 😢

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Butchyrestingface · 29/11/2019 18:06

Ignore my misreading - thought piggies were for YOUR kids. 🤭

I’d still want to see them though

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SunnySomer · 29/11/2019 18:07

So I know nothing about micro pigs, and when I read your post googled. This is the first thing that came up: www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/shortcuts/2019/oct/18/big-porkie-why-do-we-keep-falling-for-the-myth-of-the-micro-pig
Key thing that occurs is - pigs really aren’t house pets. She sounds insane. 🙁

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HundredMilesAnHour · 29/11/2019 18:07

Your sister is batshit. Buying pigs as a present is thoughtless and extremely cruel. Personally I'd be telling her that if she does something so stupid, she won't be welcome at Christmas or any other time.

www.gov.uk/guidance/keeping-a-pet-pig-or-micropig

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madcatladyforever · 29/11/2019 18:07

Is this a joke? For fucks sake the piglets are not toys and no it would most definitely not be suitable for them.
I'd report her to the RSPCA.

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Haffdonga · 29/11/2019 18:08

No such thing as a micro pig. Your sister is an idiot.

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Brimful · 29/11/2019 18:08

Say yes, and you'll do bacon sarnies in the morning.

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Yarboosucks · 29/11/2019 18:09

Say yes, as long as she prepares and cooks them.

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PigAuntie · 29/11/2019 18:10

@CoffeeWithMyOxygen I purposely kept my original post about them coming for Christmas however I do have huge huge misgivings about her having them as pets which is a whole other issue I need to tackle!!
She lives in a 3 beds semi with a completely patioed small back garden, she rents, her house is really messy - floor completely covered in stuff so I worry about the pigs ruining everything/eating something they shouldn’t and getting ill, etc

OP posts:
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Gabrielknight · 29/11/2019 18:10

micro pigs' are full size pigs piglets .... They will get huge. Your sister is crazy. Unless they live on a farm?

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Yarboosucks · 29/11/2019 18:10

@Brimful - Great minds and all that!

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Yarboosucks · 29/11/2019 18:12

Who is selling them to her? They should be prosecuted!

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Gabrielknight · 29/11/2019 18:12

Just seen your update. Keeping pigs isn't easy....also if she rents her landlord will never allow it surely?

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notacooldad · 29/11/2019 18:13

Oops I tapped on YABU!
I mean that your not being UR!

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justanotherlemontree · 29/11/2019 18:14

It’s not the poo that’s the real problem - pig urine really stinks, which I think is a big part of the reason why they’ve never taken off as indoor pets!

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Yarboosucks · 29/11/2019 18:14

Are you sure that she is not winding you up? Have you ever mentioned "pig sty" and "your house" to her in the same sentence?

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EllaEllaE · 29/11/2019 18:16

Nope, no, not a chance.

A relative of mine runs an animal sanctuary for pigs that were brought as pets but then abandoned when they grew to full size. It's really upsetting -- the ones sold as micro pigs are often starved or otherwise stunted by breeders to keep them small before they are sold. When they are brought by people who don't understand what they are getting into, they often end up neglected or abused. Pigs are intelligent, sociable animals and looking after them is a lot of work. It's not the same as getting a puppy or a kitten. Your sister is being foolish, but also potentially cruel. Absolutely do not let her bring them to your house for christmas, and also try to strongly convince her that this is a very bad idea.

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AllYouGoodGoodPeople · 29/11/2019 18:16

Wouldn't it be easier if she just collected them after Christmas?

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CurbsideProphet · 29/11/2019 18:18

Why on earth would a grown adults make the ridiculous decision to buy 2 piglets when they are not a farmer / aren't experienced with farm animals / don't have any proper land to keep them on.

Obviously the pigs will be gone by 5th January.

You really don't have to ask if it's unreasonable to not want 2 piglets staying in your house.

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VictoriaBun · 29/11/2019 18:18

Email this to your sister, found very easily online.

How big do micro pigs get?
A pet pig, selectively bred to be smaller, can grow up to half the size of a farm pig.

When they reach full adult size in three to four years, micro pigs can weight up to 150km/300 pounds, or over if overweight.

Some breeders say that the pigs will be 60 pounds/27 kg when fully grown. Seeing the adult parent pig can give you a better idea of how big your pig will be as an adult.

These pigs are called mini, micro or teacup, not because they are extremely small but because compared to a normal farm pig they are smaller.

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NoHummus · 29/11/2019 18:20

Sorry but Christmas is my favourite time of the year and I don’t want it overshadowed by pigs! really made me Grin.
Good luck keeping your Christmas pig-free (apart from the ones in the blankets).

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HaileySherman · 29/11/2019 18:21

She should REALLY check out "Sammy the Hammy" on YouTube. He was bought as a micropig. He's like 600 pounds now. And I absolutely LOVE animals, really, but he's not even remotely cute any more lol. Seriously.

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PineappleDanish · 29/11/2019 18:21

Sorry, OP. Your sister is an idiot.

Absolutely no way would I be having pigs in my house. Micro, mini, maxi or even fucking Babe. NO WAY.

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VeryLittleOwl · 29/11/2019 18:22

Does she know that she'll need a holding number and to register with Animal Health? If she doesn't have a holding number, the breeder won't be able to do the movement licence for her to take them home anyway.

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