Bo the Piggy
The acronym V.I.P. has various connotations to different people; to me, V.I.P. means
“Very Important Pig.”
It all started with me seeing some piggies on the internet. After countless months of
research, I showcased a poster board of how to care for a pig to sell my perspective on pigs to my parents. At first, they were skeptical and unsure if I understood all the responsibilities and commitments that a decision of this magnitude entailed. My persistence paid off, and I sold them the idea that I was competent through my knowledge of pigs and desire to have one. My family and I took the time to look for and research breeders. Once we started looking at the cute little piglets, I fell for a single little piggy that stood out from the rest. His personality was subtle and cuddly; he had three distinct dark markings on his back, which were shaped like hearts. I looked at him and expressed, “He’s perfect!”
I adopted him instantly and named him Bo.
This lovable fist-sized piglet quickly became my new best friend. He had the tiniest
snout, pitter-patter hooves, and oink that made my heart melt. Bo would crawl into the pockets of my hoodies and fall asleep for hours. We were inseparable; he always wanted attention and he ensured I tucked him in bed with me each night. After he grew in size, I took him everywhere with me. Taking Bo places meant there would be comments from astonished people asking, “Is that…a pig?”
Sometimes there would be the occasional, “Your dog looks strange” or “It’s a pig in a
blanket!”
Because his legs were so short and he was so little, I could not leash him, nor could I
expect him to stay up for too long. My mom and I bought a stroller specially designed for
animals, and I would stroll him around everywhere. One lady stopped in the middle of the busy road and got out of her car to take a picture with my pig. As crazed drivers looked to see the commotion, they too would irrationally park their vehicles in the intersection. Wherever we
went, people would stop whatever they were doing and scurry over just to see Bo. No matter
their creed, people of all ages, races, and sexes were excited to see the pig in the stroller.
After seeing how Bo made people feel, I wanted to show the world how intelligent and
charming pigs are. I created an Instagram for my pig, and he gained a considerably large group of followers. My pig was famous. I would go to Los Angeles every weekend as my pig got photoshoot offers and brand deals. From being featured in a BuzzFeed video to pet shampoo brand deals, my pig was influential. Bo was receiving so many packages and goodies from companies that I had to open up a P.O. box. Never would I have thought my pig would get more mail than me. He even went on piggy playdates. As one would imagine, two pigs playing and running around with each other was adorable. You would think that the highlight of my week was strolling down Beverly Hills with my pig; it was not. Relaxing with Bo plopped on my legs and watching television was always the pinnacle of my week. Like actors constantly being bombarded with flashing lights, it can affect one’s quality of life.
As Bo retires from the limelight days, he still shines as bright as the stars. Since he
brought so much joy to others, I still wanted him to be able to interact with people. I trained him to be one of the first therapy pigs to help relieve the stress of military personnel leaving their homes. Although pigs cannot fly, he went to the airport numerous times to volunteer at the USO.
A marine once came up to me and remarked, “I had the worst day until I saw your pig; it reminded me of my farm back home.”
Even the strict straight-laced drill instructors could not contain their composure around
Bo; they too would have to pause from their script to come to see him. Bo has an effect on
people unlike any other. Although most saw him as a cute adorable piggy, some were curious and had never seen a pig in real life. While others were initially cautious and scared, they soon learned how intelligent and charming a pig can be.
Every now and then, I think of Bo as a human. As he tries to communicate with me, I try to decipher what each of his oinks and grunts means. There are times when my unconscious mind just knows what he conveys through his squeals. When I think about it, I understand what he wants, it is more straightforward than trying to figure out pig Latin. My Bo purely wants his attention, cuddles, kisses, and scheduled timely feedings.
Every now and then, I realize, “I have a remarkable pig living in my house,” and I recall
how privileged I am to care for this fascinating creature.
Bo allowed me to explore facets of life I would never think I could. His extroverted
behavior led me to come out of my shell. I’ve gotten to meet many people who have bonded over my pig. The crowds he garners are one like no other. Like in Charlotte’s Web, Bo truly is some pig.
Author Statement: More than just a pig.