Johanna Kerby of West Virginia has recently written her own children’s book, titled ‘The Pink Puppy’, supported with a book signing at Borders.
It tells the true story of her sausage dog, Tink, who adopted a piglet named Pink to raise as her own. The book tells of how Pink overcame many obstacles to survive and learned to live the life of a puppy dog.
When Johanna’s friends released photographs of the adorable pig-dog family earlier this year into cyberspace, a ‘cute frenzy’ swept the internet as people searched for the background to the story, which has lead to strong demand for the popular book.
The amazing real life tale is set in 2008 on her family farm where Johanna raises pigs for her childrens’ agricultural projects. When Pink the Piglet was born prematurely, it didn’t look like he was going to survive, despite that he was breathing and making noises. His eyes were sealed shut, he couldn’t stand up, and he lacked the sucking reflex that was needed to hold him to his mother’s teat and absorb colostrum.
But as fate would have it, one of the family dachshunds named Tink had given birth two days before, with one of her puppies stillborn, and Johanna decided to see if Tink would nurse the Piglet. Being a loving dog, Tink immediately began licking the little pig and letting him nurse, accepting him as one of her puppies.
Eventually Pink was weaned along with the other puppies, developed a preference for puppy-food over pig-food, and learned to love exploring nooks and crannies and playing chase every day with his canine siblings.
At last update, Pink was doing well, weighs about 70kgs, and would never believe how many hearts he’s melted. Pigs which are allowed to develop natural behaviours removed from industrial environments are said to be as intelligent as three-year-old children, being able to vocalise their thoughts and feelings, and Pink is no exception. He is growing up to be smart and is being taught the “sit” command just like a dog. He loves eating marshmallows, is sweet and clean, and when he is with other pigs they all follow him around like he’s a mother hen.
Johanna’s new book is a dedicated to telling his wonderful story, and has now resulted in author visits to schools and book signings. It all goes to show that it doesn’t matter the colour of your skin; we’re all just one big family of Earth’s creatures. EE
- KATE ELLIS
-94x97.jpg "Compassion Quotes Dalai Lama T-shirts (unisex)")
