Therapy with Pigs

Meet Sherman the Pot-bellied pig!

Sherman is a full grown pot-bellied pig at 13 years old and weighs 120lbs. He is part of a pet therapy group for Pet Partners aka Delta Society for over 8 years. In order to be certified Sherman had to pass a skills test. He also needed to be able to remain calm around wheel chairs and loud noises as well as be able to do basic commands like sit and stay. He enjoys educating the public on potbellied pig ownership and bringing lots of smiles to people. Many residents of the nursing home who otherwise have been unresponsive to food, talking or socializing virtually transform after a visit. Sherman has been volunteering and making residents smile at the Nursing Home Centers throughout Warren County, NJ.

One unique experience that Sherman and his handler participate in is visits to Newark’s Broadway House, New Jersey’s only residential treatment center for HIV/AIDS patients. Because Sherman is so stout and dislikes being picked up like many pigs, bedridden and often depressed patients are forced to get out of bed to pet and receive kisses from Sherman who willingly gives them.

He entertains people with his repertoire of tricks like scooping up his basket with his nose and carrying it for a short distance, to shaking his hoof hello, spinning in circles, figure 8’s, bowing down like a gentleman and even an occasional kiss to his human mom.

Sherman is active in Pet Expos, Fairs, and town festivals. He has also been at 4-H clubs in Flemington, NJ educating children. At Pet Expos and Fairs, he scoops up his basket with his nose and children and adults will help in donating a dollar in his basket. All donations collected get distributed to pot-bellied pig rescue sanctuaries that need help for food and medical needs.

Sherman is Priscilla Merta’s first pot-belled pig. He was born the same month, day and year Merta had to put her beloved dog to sleep. “So Sherman is my fate baby and definitely my rock when times are down. He is getting older now and tends to be grumpy but our connection is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.”

Meet Spartacus, Sherman’s sidekick!

Merta’s newest adopted addition since March of 2013 is Spartacus, a 2 years old weighing in at 90lbs. Spartacus was a rescue from Ross Mill Farms in Pennsylvania. He has also learned all the tricks Sherman has learned. He has started to visit the Warren Haven nursing home in Oxford, NJ but is still a little shy. Spartacus follows in Sherman’s footsteps which includes scooping up his basket with his snout to help raise money for pot-bellied pig rescue sanctuaries.

The Tri-County Pot Bellied Pig Club and “Piggy Villa”

Merta, Spartacus and Sherman’s club, the Tri-County Pot-Bellied Pig Club, has many human and pet piggy volunteers that come together from various towns and counties in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Piggy Villa is a fun and unique educational experience. When they walk through one of our mobile home exhibits, people are intrigued and enjoy looking at the pot-bellies and ask a lot of questions regarding them as pets. “It is our home away from home with individual rooms set up with carpeting and cute short beds for our pets to lay down comfortably. Some pet pigs will even pull the covers over their heads to get some quiet time!” Piggy Villa is based in Pennsylvania and sponsored by Houck’s Homes in Shoemakersville, PA. Their mission is to protect, promote, and educate pet pig owners and the public about pot-bellied pigs. They strive to attain this mission by attending and participating in local events. The Tri-County Pot Bellied Pig Club also supports sanctuaries and individuals who need help with health concerns as well as behavioral and logistical needs.

Merta explains “It is unfortunately saddening how many people do get a pot-bellied pig before doing their research and realize they can’t either take care of them, may not be zoned for one or the biggest issue, that they didn’t know how big pigs get when they are full grown. In return the pet pig will end up being surrendered to a sanctuary or even worse abandoning them at a shelter.”

Our mission is a long one but hopefully with our part in educating the public, we can stop pot-bellied pigs from being homeless and into the right hands of a responsible pet pig owner.

About Priscilla Merta

For Priscilla Merta, its all about the pot-bellies. Sometimes she laughs and says to herself when she comes home and realizes she is just the tenant and they own the home. Lol

Her love of pot-bellies started back in 2001 when she used to take care of the horses for a barn that she worked at that used to go up to the Sussex County Horse and Fair to show. Merta used to love when they had the pot-bellied pig show there and hang out by the pens especially when one piggy named Lilli was there. What a beautiful pot-bellied pig. Merta saw how well trained she was and just fell in love with all of them. “I just loved how neat and smart they were.” So in August 2002 Merta went back up to the fair as usual with the horses for the girls at her barn to show. When all of her chores were done, she would go and hang out to see the pot-bellied pig show. After watching them, Merta walked around the fair and to her surprise they had a separate small petting zoo, and low and behold the owner was selling pot-bellied pigs. “I was just so aww’d and all week long at the Sussex show I kept contemplating if I really should get one. I had no idea how to take care of them. Did some reading. Did know they were going to get big. Had big dogs, rode and took care of horses. Thought, I think I can do this. “

So as day one and two went by, the litter of piglets were getting fewer and fewer. It came to the third day and there were only two piglets left. A very large one and a runt sized one. Merta looked at the date on the pen. June 17, 2002. This date was the exact month, day and year she had to unfortunately put her dog down. Merta really liked the small one and a male. “I like the male animals.” Merta asked the lady and thought the little one was probably sold already. Everyone loves the little ones! But was shocked when she said the only one left was the runt. So there Merta sat in the pen and watched her future Sherman buzz around her making circles probably thinking this human is going to eat me! So that is when Priscilla Merta’s wonderful adventure began, with her fate baby Sherman. “I have been hooked ever since”

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