September 2021 "Meet Millie"

“Meet Millie”
 
Every animal that comes to Crow Moon Healing has a story and Millie’s no different.  I wasn’t actively looking for a pig, William’s enough piggy for our small crew, but when I heard Millie’s story, I said, “Yes to the pig.”
 
Kim wasn’t actively looking for a pig either, but when she found a box on her doorstep with a tiny pink pig with the umbilical cord still attached, she was compelled to do her best to help it survive.  Millie was tiny, possibly a runt, and she needed help.  Kim used her knowledge from her vet-tech years to support the little girl.  She also reached out to the Lodi vet clinic for support.  AND FYI, I love the vets there! Millie did great with Kim’s loving care, but Kim lived in town.  She couldn’t keep a pig. She needed to find Millie a permanent home.
 
It got around to the neighbors that Kim had an adorable pink piggy and Millie became a little celebrity, with many visitors stopping by to hold and pet her, many whom never were that up-close to one before. Millie even visited the local nursing home! But Millie, although very friendly, well-behaved and potty-trained, was getting bigger.
 
The vet’s guess was that Millie was a Yorkshire, a commercial-sized pig breed and this little bundle was going to get three-feet tall and 400 to 500 or more pounds in the next 10 months or so. Unfortunately, Millie’s days of being carried like a baby in Kim’s arms and riding in the car was going to come to an end soon.
 
Kim knew she had to rehome her little piggy but when she toured and talked with local pig farmers, she wasn’t happy with Millie’s future quality of life. This is how I got involved.  A friend of hers, talked to a neighbor of mine and I got word that there was a pig in need of rehoming.  Without knowing Millie’s story, I gave out my number to be shared, thinking I could perhaps be of support but not wanting to add to my crew.
 
When Kim called, she was desperate and when she shared her story of Millie, I was moved.  All the love, time and energy she put into this tiny piggy so she would survive was to a sad end as there was no place for her where she could continue being loved and cared for.  My heart went out to Kim and Millie but I asked her to try a local farm sanctuary first. 
 
Within days of talking with Kim and offering Crow Moon Healing as a back-up, Kim had an unfortunate experience of having the police being called to her house. Although the officer had sympathy for the situation Kim was now in need of rehoming immediately and the farm sanctuary wasn't taking any animals.
 
Crow Moon Healing Bed and Breakfast is a place for people to come and get away from the hustle and bustle of life, to find respite and quiet. Part of the experience for many of the guests is the interactions they have with the farm animals that live here.  The money that is brought in from the bed and breakfast supports the animals that live here. Millie, is now another member of the crew!  She’s currently adorable! AND, is in need of a big pen! Thank-you to present and future guests for supporting Millie! At Crow Moon Healing we support Millie and her mom, Kim.