Hog Heaven

Tri-City Tales Issue No. 27

He was spotted wandering on Maple Grove Drive in Cedar Hill, skittish and malnourished. The staff at Tri-City Animal Shelter had been trying to catch him for days. A street pig.

When he was finally captured, in February of 2022, the staff knew he needed a special home. Potbellied pigs have become popular pets, but they are highly intelligent, curious animals who need outdoor space and a lot of attention. They often cost more to feed than people expect (eating like pigs, ya know) and can grow quite large. According to the North American Potbellied Pig Association, the vast majority of newly adopted pigs end up re-homed after a year.

Or, in this case, picked up by the animal shelter. One of the staff members knew that the Tarver-Rendon Elementary School, part of Mansfield ISD, was a designated agricultural leadership school, complete with an outdoor classroom. The shelter called the school principal with a question: Could you use a potbellied pig? 

“Of course I wanted a pig,” says ag teacher Ladena Drake. “I love pigs. I was so excited.” She immediately emailed the other teachers at the school, asking for name suggestions. One of her colleagues suggested “Hamilton.” She was a fan of the hit Broadway musical about the U.S. Founding Father. Hamilton it was, heading to the classroom where it happens. 

Shelter staff microchipped and neutered Hamilton, and after discovering he was severely anemic, recommended a special diet until he put on weight. When Drake picked up Hamilton, she found him skinny and terrified.  Homelessness and his brief time at the shelter had left him traumatized. He was well cared for at Tri-City, but there was no escaping the sound of barking dogs, which trigger an innate stress response, given that canines are predators for pigs. 

Drake remembers after she picked up Hamilton, he wanted nothing to do with people at first. Given that pigs are social creatures who generally like company, she housed him with four goats. 

Today, thanks to a robust diet and loving care, Hamilton has completely transformed. He is beloved by students and staff—and runs to greet visitors with excited oinks. During the day, he hangs out with his best friend Mabel, a Boer goat. He is 130ish pounds of personality. If he hears Drake feeding the goats before he gets his breakfast, he protests in loud squeals.

“He will live at the school until I retire,” Drake says. And when she does retire, she will take Hamilton with her, never to be homeless again.