Fred
Fred is the largest pig at Blackbird Ranch, weighing in at an impressive 600 plus pounds. This handsome Berkshire pig was rescued in December 2017 from the Boise Humane Society after being abandoned in a garbage dumpster as an infant. He has been a beloved member of the Blackbird family ever since.
Despite his enormous size, Fred is an exceptionally gentle and friendly pig with a personality every bit as big as he is. His best friend is Stanley, a much smaller pot-bellied pig whom Fred has known since they were young. The two share a special bond and have grown up together.
Fred’s idea of a perfect day includes flopping over for a good belly rub or enjoying a thorough raking—one of his absolute favorite forms of pampering. And when it comes to treats, nothing makes Fred happier than a big, juicy slice of watermelon.
Fred is also quite the conversationalist and always seems to have plenty of important pig business to discuss. Whether he is chatting away with his caregivers, enjoying time with Stanley, or soaking up some well-deserved attention, Fred brings a gentle, joyful presence to life at Blackbird Ranch.
Fun Fact About Fred: He’s a Sanctuary Hero! 
Fred isn’t just a beloved member of the Blackbird Ranch family—he’s a lifesaver!
Fred is a blood donor pig, and his blood once helped save the life of our little piglet, Simon, when he was just an infant. Thanks to Fred’s generosity, Simon was given a precious second chance at life.
We like to think that Fred may not realize just how important his contribution was, but to us, he’ll always be a hero. Beneath that big, gentle exterior is an even bigger heart—and Fred has quite literally helped give another pig the gift of life.
Mile (pronounced Mee-Lay)
Mile is our sweet little girl from Puerto Rico! In late 2017, Hurricane Maria devastated the island, leaving Mile in need of a new home. Her wonderful human guardian went above and beyond to make sure she was safe, arranging for her to board a plane and make the long journey to her new home with us in Eastern Washington.
From the moment she arrived, Mile fit right in with our piggy family. Today, she enjoys the simple pleasures of sanctuary life—lounging beside the mud wallow, catching up on her beauty sleep, and indulging in plenty of juicy watermelon, especially during the hot summer months.
Every pig has their own unique voice and way of communicating, but Mile’s is particularly unforgettable. When she gets excited, she lets out the most adorable, high-pitched squeak that is unmistakably hers. It’s one of those little sounds that instantly makes you smile.
And if you’re looking for Mile, just follow the sound of her squeaks—or look for her wagging little tail! Her tail is almost always happily swishing as she confidently struts around the pig yard, enjoying the safe and happy life she deserves.
Stanley
Stanley holds a very special place in the history of Blackbird Ranch—he was our very first pig resident! He arrived in November 2017, after his previous caregiver became ill and was no longer able to provide him with the care he needed.
Stanley is a pot-bellied pig with an incredibly gentle and loving personality. He is one of those animals who seems to win your heart almost instantly. There’s just something about his sweet nature that makes everyone who meets him fall in love.
Stanley enjoys all the best things in life, including splashing around in his swimming pool and flopping over for a good belly rub. And when it comes to treats, he has excellent taste! Blueberries and bananas are his favorites, and he takes them so delicately from your hand that it’s absolutely adorable to watch.
As Blackbird Ranch’s first pig, Stanley helped pave the way for the piggy family that would eventually grow around him. After all these years, he remains every bit as sweet, gentle, and lovable as the day he arrived—and we couldn’t imagine Blackbird Ranch without him.
Hank
Hank is a pot-belly pig who came to live at Blackbird Ranch in March of 2020. When he arrived, Hank was carrying quite a bit of extra weight and was suffering from a condition commonly referred to as being “fat-blind.” In severely overweight pigs, the thick roll of fat across the forehead can become so large that it falls over the eyes, severely restricting their vision and, in some cases, leaving them essentially blind.
Our goal for Hank has been to help him become healthier and more comfortable, so he has been placed on a carefully restricted diet to encourage gradual weight loss. Thankfully, Hank has made tremendous progress since arriving at the sanctuary. He has lost a considerable amount of weight and is now much more active and mobile than he was when he first came to us. Watching him become more comfortable and engaged with his surroundings has been incredibly rewarding.
Hank may have a bit of a curmudgeonly side—he definitely likes things done his way—but underneath that grumpy exterior is a pig who absolutely loves affection. His favorite form of attention is a good belly rub. In fact, Hank enjoys belly rubs so much that he will often become completely relaxed and drift off to sleep while someone is rubbing his tummy. Apparently, even a professional grump needs his beauty sleep!
Of course, there is one thing that can instantly get Hank’s attention: food. Hank absolutely lives for snacks and has developed a very impressive ability to identify which humans might possibly be carrying something delicious. If you’re walking around the ranch and suddenly find Hank following closely behind you, there’s a good chance he suspects you have food.
His favorite treats include watermelon, apples, and animal crackers—and he considers all three excellent reasons to temporarily set aside his curmudgeonly ways.
Hank’s journey is a reminder that sanctuary isn’t just about giving animals a safe place to live. Sometimes it means giving them the time, patience, and specialized care they need to become healthier and more comfortable. Today, Hank is more active, more comfortable, and still every bit the lovable food-motivated grump we’ve come to adore.
Izzy
Izzy is a KuneKune pig who came to Blackbird Ranch in January of 2020 with his brother, Oggy. The two boys had been used as “research pigs” at a university, and when the research project ended, they were facing an uncertain future. Without a sanctuary to take them, they would have been euthanized.
We simply couldn’t let that happen to these two little cuties, so Izzy and Oggy came to live at Blackbird Ranch—and they quickly made themselves right at home! From the moment they arrived, it was clear that these little pigs were going to have some very big personalities.
As babies, Izzy and Oggy immediately bonded with our much larger farm pig, Meadow. Meadow seemed to decide that these two little boys needed a mama, and she happily stepped into the role of surrogate mother. It was incredibly sweet watching the three of them together, with the tiny piglets following their much bigger mama around.
Izzy and Oggy look quite a bit alike, but there are a few easy ways to tell them apart. Izzy has larger, floppier ears and distinctive white spots across his back. And while both brothers are adorable, Izzy has definitely perfected the art of being spoiled!
One of Izzy’s favorite things in the world is being brushed. Give him a good brushing and he’ll happily flop right over, making sure you know that belly rubs are absolutely welcome. He knows how to relax and enjoy the finer things in life!
And, of course, no good pig bio would be complete without mentioning snacks. Izzy is especially fond of pumpkin and watermelon, and he is always happy to investigate when he thinks treats might be involved. Today, Izzy gets to enjoy the peaceful sanctuary life he should have always had. Instead of being valued for what researchers could learn from him, he gets to simply be a pig—surrounded by his brother, his friends, and people who love him exactly for who he is. We’re so grateful we got the chance to give this sweet boy the second chance he deserved.
Oggy
Oggy is a KuneKune pig who came to Blackbird Ranch in January of 2020 with his brother, Izzy. The two boys had been used as “research pigs” at a university, and when the research project ended, they were facing euthanasia. We simply couldn’t let that be the end of their story, so we welcomed these two little cuties to the sanctuary.
It didn’t take long for Oggy and Izzy to make themselves at home. Even as babies, the brothers quickly became beloved characters at the ranch, and they developed a very special bond with our large farm pig, Meadow. Meadow immediately took the boys under her wing and became their surrogate mama. Watching these two tiny pigs follow their much bigger mama around was absolutely adorable!
Although Oggy and Izzy look quite similar, there are a few differences that make it easy to tell them apart. Oggy has smaller ears and a much more orange-colored face. But honestly, the easiest way to identify Oggy is simply to look for the pig who is right in the middle of whatever is happening!
Oggy is incredibly inquisitive and firmly believes that no farm activity should take place without his supervision. He loves being “helpful” with the chores and is always eager to investigate what the humans are doing. Whether someone is cleaning, carrying something, fixing something, or simply walking by, Oggy is likely to appear on the scene to make sure everything is being done properly. He may not actually be much help, but he certainly provides plenty of moral support!
His curiosity is matched only by his love of snacks. Apples and bananas are at the very top of Oggy’s favorite-treat list, and he is always happy to investigate when he thinks one might be coming his way. Today, Oggy gets to spend his days doing what he does best: exploring, supervising, investigating, snacking, and generally making sure everyone at Blackbird Ranch is staying on task. His life began as a research project, but thankfully, that’s not where his story ended. Instead, he got the chance to become exactly what he was meant to be—a happy, curious, slightly nosy little pig with a permanent home and a whole ranch to keep an eye on.
Mama Pig
Mama Pig’s story is one of unimaginable hardship, incredible strength, and a second chance at life.
She was rescued from a terrible neglect situation, where she was severely malnourished and living in a small, dark horse trailer. When she arrived, she was not only desperately underweight—she was also very pregnant. She had been impregnated by a wild boar who had gotten through the insecure fencing on the property where she lived. To make matters even more urgent, Mama Pig had a basketball-sized hernia in her abdomen that required immediate medical attention.
Shortly after arriving at the veterinary hospital, Mama Pig was rushed into emergency surgery for a cesarean section. Tragically, all but two of her babies had already died. The two boys who survived were extremely small and severely malnourished. Heartbreakingly, one of them passed away just a few days later, leaving Simon as Mama Pig’s only surviving baby.
Simon was critically anemic and needed an emergency blood transfusion to save his life. Thanks to our very own Fred, who donated the lifesaving blood, Simon made an incredible turnaround and grew stronger each day.
The veterinarians gave Mama Pig several days to recover before performing a second surgery to repair her enormous hernia. Despite being so weak and underweight herself, this remarkable mama handled both surgeries beautifully. She recovered quickly and was soon reunited with Simon.
Mama Pig has always been an incredibly devoted mother. When Simon was tiny, she was gentle and attentive, and she would softly “sing” to him while he nursed, comforting him as he fed. It is incredibly special that Mama Pig and Simon get to continue their lives together. In animal agriculture, mothers and babies are rarely given the opportunity to remain together. At Blackbird Ranch, Mama Pig gets to keep doing what comes naturally—being Simon’s mom.
Even now, she still mothers her big boy and isn’t afraid to give him a well-deserved scolding when he gets too rowdy!
These days, Mama Pig enjoys the simple pleasures she was once denied: peaceful naps in front of her fan, time with her son, and plenty of watermelon—her absolute favorite treat.
After everything she endured, Mama Pig finally has what every mother deserves: safety, comfort, and the chance to watch her baby grow up beside her.
Simon
Simon is the son of Mama Pig, and his story is one of incredible resilience. He was delivered by emergency cesarean, and sadly, only two of Mama Pig’s piglets were alive when they were born. His other siblings were stillborn, and the one brother who survived the delivery passed away just a few days later.
Simon and his brother were both severely underweight and anemic at birth—a heartbreaking consequence of the severe neglect and malnutrition Mama Pig had endured before coming to us. Simon was so anemic that he needed an emergency blood transfusion to save his life. His lifesaving donor was none other than our very own Fred. Fred saved Simon’s life!
Simon made an amazing turnaround after his transfusion. He grew stronger and stronger, and today, it’s hard to believe just how fragile he once was. His journey is a beautiful reminder of the difference compassionate care can make.
Simon is also a little different from our other pigs. He is half wild boar, which gives him his distinctive thick, curly coat, long legs, and long snout. A wild boar had found its way through the insecure fencing on the farm where Mama Pig lived and impregnated her, making Simon a unique and rather handsome member of our piggy family.
As our youngest pig, Simon is also our most energetic! He loves belly rubs and absolutely lives for his mud wallow. Some days, he’ll happily spend nearly the entire day soaking, splashing, and rolling in the mud.
And although Simon has now grown bigger than his mama, Mama Pig is never shy about reminding him who’s boss. She still knows exactly how to put her big boy in his place when necessary!
Today, Simon is strong, playful, and thriving—and every time we see him enjoying his happy sanctuary life, we’re reminded of just how precious his second chance truly is.
