While our primary mission is supporting pig sanctuaries and pug rescues, we felt compelled to respond to the crisis in Ukraine and assist with the urgent care and needs of animals in shelters, zoos and sanctuaries—in Ukraine and neighboring areas.
We chose to give a $500 micro-grant to the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), which is helping to feed and care for dogs and cats in partner shelters; care for animals evacuated from a Kyiv sanctuary and those temporarily staying at the Poznań Zoo in Poland; feed and care for bears evacuated from a sanctuary outside Kyiv to Four Paws’ Bear Sanctuary near Lviv; and support production and delivery of local pet food to shelters and wildlife facilities.
Read more on what IFAW is doing to rush emergency aid to animals in Ukraine.
To help spread the holiday cheer, we made these donations to a few of our favorite pug rescues and pig sanctuaries!
$500 to Pacific Pugs Rescue who wrote “Your contribution will give the gift of love to senior pugs who are waiting for their happily-ever-after. We hope you know how truly appreciated you are and how much we value your support. You are helping us rewrite the story for so many senior pugs in need, giving them the chance to live the life they always deserved with families that love them.”
$500 to Homeward Bound Pug Rescue
$250 to Pug Rescue of New England
$250 to Sleepy Pig Farm
$100 to Sleeping Pig Farm
$250 to Pigs Peace Sanctuary
$250 to White Pig Animal Sanctuary
In 2021, we donated $4350 to pig sanctuaries and pug rescues. Thank you for your support of our mission to make the lives of pigs and pugs happier and healthier. We hope to see you again in this new year once we’re able to offer our in-person events again!
Over the past few months we’ve contributed to four organizations in need and you’ll find more about them below. Thanks for your support and please check out these safe spaces for pigs and pugs.
Indraloka $200 to help get Duncan a lift!
Here’s Duncan’s story from Indraloka’s Facebook page (shown in the photo): “Duncan is a sweet, intelligent, and emotional fellow who graciously accepts any kind of love and attention you are willing to give him. But as Duncan enters his elderly years, he is succumbing to a medical condition many of us are familiar with as we age- arthritis. Duncan struggles with pain in his back legs and has trouble getting up and down. It often takes several caregivers to help him to his feet- he is 600 pounds, after all! Sometimes, it’s a difficult task to help him up, and sometimes, he very vocally fights us, because the pain is just too much. But once he is able to stand, there is no stopping him! Duncan loves to take walks around his pasture, visit his other pig friends next door, cool off in his wallow, and perhaps his most favorite activity of all: pumpkin and pineapple parties. Despite his pain, we know Duncan still has a vibrant, happy life.
But the process of getting him up several times a day to help stimulate blood flow to his legs is not only time-consuming but also not always successful. So, we have decided the best path forward is to purchase a $2,000 lift to help Duncan to his feet. This lift is placed under his back hips to help relieve the pressure so it is easier for him to stand. With this lift, a single caregiver can help get Duncan out of his hay bed and move around the pasture. So far, it has been a wonderful tool for the caregivers and will continue to benefit everyone at Indraloka, because we can use it for other animals who may have similar needs in the future.”
Heartwood Haven $100 to help keep their pigs dry.
Sleepy Pig Farm Sanctuary $100 to help them with a pig rescue.
Paws 4 a Cure $100 to help a pug in need.
We’re over the moon to announce two $500 micro-grants to Homeward Bound Pug Rescue and My Pig Filled Life.
Meet sweet Valerie Hope who was dumped in a small Oklahoma town. Homeward Bound Pug Rescue swept in and got her to safety. She needed emergency surgery to remove mammary tumors and is now in the healing process. You can follow her journey on their Instagram page. Read more about her story and contribute to her healing here.
Our second grant goes to My Pig Filled Life—a non-profit in east Texas dedicated to promoting and supporting the rescue & care of mini pigs by providing the compassion, commitment and companionship they deserve. Feeding her rescue pigs costs $150/day and she hopes to add 47 acres of grazing land for our current and future rescues, so we’re happy to support her efforts. Learn more about My Pig Filled Life here.
Meet our latest $250 micro-grant recipient, Koda, from Sisu Refuge. Below is their announcement of her and we’re in love. Follow her adventures on Instagram and Facebook.
Koda is just five days old and barely over three pounds, making her the youngest and tiniest resident at Sisu Refuge.She was born a few days ago, and was the only surviving piglet from the litter.The mom, who was most likely grieving the tragic loss, rejected her only baby. The farmer gave Koda to his son and then the son reached out to us.
Koda is spunky and has more energy and sass than any piglet we have ever seen!Her umbilical cord just came off this weekend and revealed a very small hernia that we addressed with our vet. For now, we are getting her settled and trying to shift her to pan-feeding before setting an appointment. Piglets this young are very fragile and require around the clock care … so we have been doing feedings every 2 hours and she moved in to our bedroom.Prepare to fall in love, because this little one is a firecracker – 10 pounds of sass in 3 pounds of piglet! She even swiped me when I tried to move her yesterday!“
In 2020 we donated $750 to Pacific Pug Rescue and asked for an update on one of the micro-grants. Here’s the story of a bonded pair:
“10 year old Ollie (fawn) and Odin (black) came to us when their owner could not afford to care for them. They were in serious need of general vet care and they both had to have extensive dental surgeries. Ollie had 22 teeth removed and Odin had 17! In addition Odin has some neurological issues and spent time in physical therapy to help him learn to walk better.
Now they have a wonderful new mom and a very exciting life—exploring the yard (3.5 acres fenced in!), sniffing and searching the yard for turkeys, quail and deer, checking out the apple orchard and helping with yard work by supervising. They keep very busy!”
We’re so happy to support the work of Pacific Pug Rescue!
This little guy was left alone in a garage and is now in the care of Sleepy Pig Farm Animal Sanctuary. We contributed $100 to help with his vet bills. Sending lots of love his way!
Back in November, we introduced micro-grant recipient, Layla, a baby potbellied pig who was found as a stray in Washington, DC with a badly broken leg. Pigs & Pugs helped to cover her surgical expenses, and after time to heal (and snooze in Humane Rescue Alliance‘s cozy offices), she was adopted by her foster family.
In her new home, Layla enjoys walking on a leash, free reign over a three-acre yard, and evening snuggles on the sofa.
Layla’s adopter describes her as “a total force of nature. The strength, energy, and force of a St. Bernard condensed to the size of a cocker spaniel.”
We’re grateful for the opportunity to have been a small part of this sweet gal’s very big journey.
🐷🐷 Meet Mr. Waffles and Apollo! Our latest micro-grant goes to Sisu Refuge who recently picked these babies up from the shelter. $500 covers their neuters and gets them a happy home. Thank you, Sisu Refuge, for the work you do! Learn more: sisurefuge.org.
💗 We’re delighted to announce that our latest micro-grant goes to Pacific Pug Rescue. We’ve donated $500 to support their work. They’re taking in more pugs than usual due to COVID-19 (especially seniors which are the best!).
Pssst, they’re hosting an online auction to raise money June 18-28. They’re currently gathering donations of new and gently used items. They’re looking for artists of any kind and businesses who can donate a product or gift certificate. Items do not have to be pug related. If interested, email alana@pacificpugrescue.org. Learn more here.
Learn more about them on their website pacificpugrescue.org and follow them on Instagram. They have TONS of adorable pugs searching for the perfect home!