Pigs are not hams, as they help us heal

Pigs are not food.Docile and gentle they are used in pet therapy practices.The story of Bubu, a lucky pig compared to others, to say the least.

When it comes to pigs the first thing that comes to mind for many is hams.Or salamis, sausages, and all the various "products" that have their main focus in pork.Yet pigs are not just that.Mild and highly intelligent animals, they are capable of establishing deep and lasting relationships with human beings and have, for some time now, been used as aids in the practices of pet therapy.As Boo, for example, a lucky pig that escaped the slaughterhouse which, upon arriving at Harmonic therapeutic center Of Campogalliano (Modena) at the beginning 2012 when he was almost in diapers, he became an indispensable and, definitely, very useful presence for those who frequented the facility.And it is his story that, this time, we want to tell to do justice to an animal species that has accompanied man over the centuries, unfortunately always relegated to its value as a food intake.

An ancient and intelligent species

The pig belongs to the family of suidi, Suiform artiodactyl mammals, and is the domestic form of the wild boar (Sus scrofa). Its domestication dates back approximately to 6.500 years ago, and this time scale represents the long path of co-evolution with man, which has allowed the development of skills and competences capable of making the two species coexist closely.These are animals with a marked sociality and sensitivity that create strong bonds with their peers, cooperate and also learn through imitation.

“Several studies of cognitive ethology demonstrated the great intelligence of pigs:they are able to understand symbolic language, to learn complex sequences of symbols associated with numbers, even to be able to use a joysticks to move a cursor on the PC consciously.Furthermore, they have a great memory and learning speed, so much so that they even outsmart dogs in solving certain problems, such as navigating mazes and finding hidden food thanks to the image reflected in a mirror", he explains Margherita Carretti, ethologist, naturalist and operator of integrated relational pet therapy.

Pigs and pet therapy

Pigs, like other animals in contact with humans, are able to create deep relationships thanks to specific skills developed during the domestication process, such as the ability to discriminate man's emotional state and adapt of inter-specific communication systems.

“Being able to involve pigs in pet therapy projects is really interesting and stimulating – adds Carretti – and allows us to work on topics that are more current than ever:The prejudice, discrimination and the value of diversity.The common imagination about these animals is one of the furthest from reality.In fact, it is mistakenly thought that they are dirty, aggressive and stupid.On the contrary, they are extremely sensitive, delicate and clean beings.And, if they are allowed to live in conditions suitable for their well-being, they appreciate human contact, closeness and sharing moments of play."

The story of Bubu

Bubu arrived at the center when he was still a shy and shaggy piglet of a few months old.His dark back with pink paws, belly and nose immediately aroused great sympathy and tenderness in all those who knew him.After a period of adaptation to the new home, he began to meet and make friends with all the other four-legged inhabitants of the centre: dogs, cats, rabbits, horses and donkeys.

“Bubu is a very sensitive and curious pig, his arrival has brought a new awareness of the cultural imagination historically associated with this animal.His great intelligence and sensitivity immediately emerged, so much so that at just a few months old he ran from one corner of the center to another when he was called.He chose his resting place near the horses in the hay and identified the places for his personal toilet, so as to never make a mess where he sleeps and eats.His living in freedom, choosing where to stay and who to spend his time with, was for us an important opportunity to observe the preferences and desires that developed as he grew up, which gradually created his daily routine.Bubu immediately played an important role in the activities of pet therapy, and with its slow progress and its size it certainly does not go unnoticed.All the people who know him are amazed to learn about his rich and complex life and thus begin to discover how sensitive and delicate the world of pigs can be.”, he continues Margherita Carretti.

The pig loves to be approached by visitors, but it must be done with slowness and respect so as not to impress him.He loves grazing in the garden and swimming in the pools when the summer heat increases.“Bubu also has a side of his character that is a bit grumpy and stubborn, and when he decides, for example, that the place of his rest is there, there is no way to move it.For this reason it often happens that we have to readjust programs for him.If you then do something wrong to him, after days he will remember it, welcoming the person responsible with one of his typical grumbles.Getting to know a pig like him is truly an experience that opens up new points of view and important reflections on what we ignore and don't know about other animals", concludes the expert.

When we enter the world of pigs, it becomes clear how much these animals can suffer in unsuitable contexts in which to live, such as in intensive farms and other places that limit their freedom of expression.We should not think that there are class A animals and other class B animals with fewer rights than the former, and that the latter can be exploited and used as if they were devoid of emotions and a conscience.Science today speaks clearly and it is enough to look into the eyes of a pig to be struck by the clear image of a living and vibrant soul, with the full right to live its existence in well-being and not in fear and pain.