We had a pigtastic time volunteering at Rooterville! This year's volunteer day and vegan potluck took place Oct. 12. Our last volunteer day in late 2017 consisted of putting fresh hay down for the pigs to snuggle in as the temps started to dip. It turns out, the piggies like their hay "just so," in order to dive into it. (Think jumping into a freshly made bed on a chilly night.)
Our 2017 volunteer day consisted of shoveling fresh hay into the shelters to get the pigs warm.
This year's task was a little less glamorous but no less important. We helped make sure the pig pastures were fresh and clean – cobweb and well, pig poop-free. It's a dirty job, but someone's got to do it, and we were glad to lend a helping hand to the caretakers who look out for the more than 400 sanctuary residents!
This year, we cleaned piggy pastures – making sure they were poop and cobweb-free!
Piggy Preschool!
We also had the chance to participate in "Piggy Preschool." It's a socialization program for rescued piglets. Check out some of the photos below!
Rooterville's Mission
Rooterville was founded by Elaine West in 2004 to care for the many unwanted, abandoned and abused pot-bellied pigs in need of a safe and loving home. Today, the 30-acre sanctuary is home to a variety of farm animals, each with a unique story. Unfortunately, their collective stories are not unique at all. Farm animals raised to be food for the masses through the cruel practice of factory farming suffer immensely through confinement and abuse. They are seen as a commodity instead of living beings. That's why sanctuaries such as Rooterville are so important. They step in and give these animals a second chance at life.
The welcome sign reads: "Animals are friends not food."
Like The Girls Gone Green, Rooterville advocates for a vegan lifestyle for the wellbeing of animals and your health! Let this sink in: 70 billion farm animals are are annually reared for food worldwide. More than 6 million animals are killed for food every hour.
Our vegan potluck was a way for volunteers to try vegan food if they were not vegan already. Eating meatless just one day a week can even make an impact. You could start with Meatless Mondays and go from there. Rooterville has some great resources for transitioning to a plant-based diet. You can also check out No Meat March, an annual event presented by The Girls Gone Green, for resources as well.
It's tough to see animals traditionally destined for people's dinner plates up close and personal. Getting to know their personalities and harrowing tales may make you want to change your lifestyle. At the very least, if you're an animal-lover, you should feel comforted by the fact that these lucky few residents have found a safe and loving environment at Rooterville to live out their days.
Our vegan potluck was a way for volunteers to try vegan food if they were not vegan already. Eating meatless just one day a week can even make an impact. You could start with Meatless Mondays and go from there. Rooterville has some great resources for transitioning to a plant-based diet. You can also check out No Meat March, an annual event presented by The Girls Gone Green, for resources as well.
It's tough to see animals traditionally destined for people's dinner plates up close and personal. Getting to know their personalities and harrowing tales may make you want to change your lifestyle. At the very least, if you're an animal-lover, you should feel comforted by the fact that these lucky few residents have found a safe and loving environment at Rooterville to live out their days.
Holly and Tinsel's Story
Holly and Tinsel were just a few days old when they were deemed too weak to sell at auction. Rescued by Farm Sanctuary in New York, they eventually came to live at Rooterville. Unfortunately, Holly and Tinsel’s story is not uncommon. In order for dairy cows to continue to produce milk, they must be impregnated. Their calves are taken away from them and sold at auction, usually for veal. Luckily, there are many cruelty-free dairy alternatives on the market where you don’t have to support such practices. Try switching to a dairy-free milk such as soy, coconut, almond or oat milk. There are several dairy-free ice creams, cheeses and butters widely available too!
The Pink Pigs Gift Shop and Other Ways to Help the Sanctuary
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The Pink Pigs retail shop is located on the grounds of the sanctuary and also exists as an online store. The shop carries items such as Rooterville t-shirts, but it also has a large selection of jewelry, bags and other gifts. Proceeds from the store directly benefit the shelter animals.
There are many other ways to help out as well. You could become a member, sponsor an animal, donate wish list items, or even stay at the sanctuary – either camp or stay at the Farmhouse Bed & Breakfast. You could plan a visit to the upcoming Hoggy Holidays Open House Saturday, Dec. 21 from 2-4 p.m. There is a suggested donation of $10 per person. Rooterville also hosts Pig Yoga Classes on select dates. Check the website for details.
There are many other ways to help out as well. You could become a member, sponsor an animal, donate wish list items, or even stay at the sanctuary – either camp or stay at the Farmhouse Bed & Breakfast. You could plan a visit to the upcoming Hoggy Holidays Open House Saturday, Dec. 21 from 2-4 p.m. There is a suggested donation of $10 per person. Rooterville also hosts Pig Yoga Classes on select dates. Check the website for details.
 Wish list item donations we collected for our volunteer day at Rooterville. | The sanctuary is always in need of wish list items to help with day-to-day operations. The no. 1 most needed item is comforters. The pigs like to snuggle in them to keep warm. We cleaned out our closets and purchased items from thrift stores to donate, as the items do not need to be new. Click here for a full list of the sanctuary's wish list items. Donations do not need to be made in person. The list also includes links to Amazon so that items can be ordered online and shipped directly to the sanctuary. |
More Photos from the Volunteer Day
Check out additional photos from our volunteer day with the below slideshow!
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