Louise,
Pasado's Pig Princess, is making her daily run of
the farm...
Pasado’s Safe Haven gets a kick out of a big pig who "runs" the farm!
"Princess" Louise tips the scales at 500 pounds. Despite this weight, she'll exert
herself beyond what we’d ever expect. She goes where no pig has ever gone before.
Pasado’s is located in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, so the roads are steep.
This is a detail that certainly isn't missed by Heather, our farm manager.
“I get out of breath walking around here. I’m impressed by Louise’s endurance - and
she’s a big girl!” Heather says breathlessly. “It’s fun to watch the dog volunteers’
reactions. WOW! Volunteers who don’t work on the farm don’t get to see Louise often,
let alone up in the trails!”
When she's out roaming, she usually sticks
to the upper barn area. She does, however,
have access to all of the farm areas that
aren’t gated. And that's just how she likes
it.
Believe it or not, Louise has her own "schedule." She leisurely walks out of her stall in the
early morning and scratches on her favorite tree. And how do we know it’s her favorite? Well,
the “smooth” trunk speaks for itself!
Depending on the weather, Louise will cruise over to her wading pool for a muddy rooting session
or plant herself smack dab in the middle!
But Louise's schedule doesn't end there. She has flower gardens to rearrange, fellow residents to
greet, and doors to inspect. You see, Louise knows how to push open the main gate to the old barn.
If we don’t lock it, she delightedly trots in, rooting in the pasture next to our donkey, mini horse,
and llama.
And just for good measure, as she continues to walk out, she’ll grab an empty produce box by her teeth,
shaking it along the way!
And if we want to use the truck to feed the cows in the morning,
we have to wake Louise up first and "ask" her
to move. This princess sleeps right behind the rear wheels!
Louise is a big girl, and sometimes “making” her do much of anything is… difficult. But here at Pasado’s,
we’re not above bribery.
“She’ll balance on a circus ball for strawberries - not that we’d ask her to!” said Autumn, one of our
animal caretakers.
One look at a hopeful Louise tells me she'll get the strawberries, anyway!
(don't forget
to ask your employer
to match your donation)
|
