I thought I was upset about two pigs. My friend’s two sons are each raising one for 4-H. They have food and water and their two pens were clean. No one is intentionally being cruel. In fact, everyone involved would probably describe themselves as animal lovers.
But when I visited, I watched those pigs react to human attention in a way I can’t forget. The moment we approached, they became very excited. When I scratched their backs and spoke to them, they leaned into the touch. They weren’t interested in the food that was just given, they were solely interested in us.
One of the pigs was taken out of his pen for a walk. I imagined he would get some outdoor time, a chance to explore. Instead, he was led about 10 feet from his pen and back, within the barn. A light metal object was being tapped on his long snout, making the pig heel so he’d be ready to present to the judges at the county fair.
I said, “Does he always have to be tapped and have to heal when he’s out?” “Yes,” the boy said.
In minutes, the pig was brought back to his pen and he desperately fought going back in. I can’t get it out of my mind. “I’ll bet you guys like to take them outside and give them some sun!” “Oh yeah,” my friend replied, “They do, but lately I’ve had to remind them!”
With the barn being quite far from the house, I pictured what kids do with a chore when a parent isn’t watching, so I figured they’d do the same. The pigs’ lives were in the barn, day and night. I prayed I was wrong. The pigs weren’t asking for luxury, just stimulation, attention, something and somewhere interesting to happen in their day.
I thought about chickens living their entire life in small enclosures. I thought about dogs and all the pets that spend years looking at the same walls and windows, waiting for people sitting around to take them out, to get some enrichment. I thought about elderly people sitting alone for hours, and of children competing for their parents’ attention with phones, schedules, and distractions, hoping for more genuine attention.
Maybe one of the easiest mistakes humans make is believing food, water, and shelter are enough. But most living beings need something more. They need novelty, engagement, and connection. They need that break from the monotony of the day.
How long have we accepted standards so low and not offered something closer to a life? Whether it’s an animal, a child, an aging parent, or any living being depending on us it’s our obligation to not simply keep them alive. It’s for us to make sure they have a reason to feel and want to be alive.
Stephanie Granados
Fremont
Well said!