to buy my children a mini-pig for christmas, because I want one for myself?

[standandeliver]

Have got a black labrador who I love to pieces, but have recently been dwelling on enlarging the family by getting another dog to keep her company (it's much more fun walking two dogs than one - they play more and get more exercise).

And then I saw this:
piglet

Can't stop thinking about how delighted my children would be with its sweet little snuffly pink nose and soft tummy. I just wonder if my attraction to these creatures is hormonal in any way, whether at 43 and feeling a bit peri-menopausal that this might be a bit of a baby substitute.........

Does anyone else crave after piglets? Would it be hideously decadent to buy one, and would it prove socially awkward when entertaining muslim/jewish friends if I let the pig run around the house and kip on the sofa with the dog?

"unless you are committed to one for all its natural life..."

Well, at least until you fancy a very small bacon sarnie.

No, no you should deffo get one. They are absolutely too cute. Think how adorable one would look poking out of a stocking on Christmas day morning. Actually, a whole row of them. But do not hang them too near the fire...

Vallhala - our lab was run over last year, and we didn't have her insured. I ended up spending £6000 getting the bones in her leg fused and on hydrotherapy for her. That was all the money we'd put aside for double glazing, so I'm sitting her now freezing, but with a happy snoozing dog at my feet.

I'd never abandon an animal or treat one in a cavalier way.....

Will you get yourself a little pig sized handbag to cart it around in?

Smacks of the celeb obsession with mini dogs and makes me frankly a bit ill feeling.

SoupDragon, I was waiting for that one - its why I wrote "natural" life!

"Think how adorable one would look poking out of a stocking on Christmas day morning. Actually, a whole row of them."

Oh you're wicked!

DH would have me committed.

But imagine how popular it would make my children! We could start up our own petting zoo.

(gutted I missed an opprtunity for a pig sick joke)

at standanddeliver

hope you've got insurance now. Well done.

"Vallhala - our lab was run over last year, and we didn't have her insured. I ended up spending £6000 getting the bones in her leg fused and on hydrotherapy for her. That was all the money we'd put aside for double glazing, so I'm sitting her now freezing, but with a happy snoozing dog at my feet.

I'd never abandon an animal or treat one in a cavalier way....."

Never said you would SAD, sorry, was too lazy to end my post with "If you are prepared for XYZ then go for it".

That'll teach me to me a lazy cow!

I'd rather freeze than see my dogs suffer or lose then too, I have every admiration for you. Keep warm and I hope your Lab is fully recovered now, with no further problems.

I've kept pigs before, and yes, there is paperwork to fill in, there are bio-hazards to be aware of, and it probably is just as well to do a pig-keeping course, or at the very least find a good book about them, but it is do-able.
In all seriousness, if you are a responsible pet owner anyway, a new addition to the family probably won't be regarded as the next new thing until the novelty wears off, so go for it!

If you do get one, can you start a blog so we can monitor its progress?

I just emailed my dp the link and entitled the email, "Found the ideal present for the kids".

He has tried to call me three times in the last two minutes.

Shall I answer or shall I let him suffer?

I can't see your link yet as internet is soooooooooo slow! But I am presuming it is a pennywell pig? They are so so lovely. DH is pig MAD and would have a whole house of them in an instant. Last time we looked the waiting list for them was HUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGEEEEE though . i have pics somewhere of all of us (including a 6 month old DS) cuddling them - yummy I reccomend everyone has a visit to Pennywell Farm in Devon, tis a lovely lovely hands on place and lots of pigs to snuggle - perfect

Lol and good on you re: the lab. When my JR developed epilepsy and we didn't have for life' insurance, I told DH he would have to remorgate. Luckily, the treatment wasn't actually that expensive. Her tablets were £7 a month and 6 monthly tests at £60 per test. But still, she lived happily for another few years, so it was worth every penny imo.

As for the micropig, I'm not convinced tbh. Surely you would need a huge garden? But if you are prepared for the work I don't see why not.

They had them on Blue Peter last week. They said you need a licence, there are other rules and that they should be purchased in pairs. They are very intelligent and need a LOT of stimulation otherwise they can be 'a handful'. Read into that what you will. They sounded like an awful lot of work to me. Is there anyway you could borrow one for a weekend to see how you cope.

The ones on Blue Peter were the Pennywell Pigs!!! {grin] can you tell we are obsessed in this house?