I was smitten by Mazzie from the moment I met him. The feeling was not mutual. He eyed me warily and declined my invitations to hang out and get to know each other better. Not taking his behavior personally was challenging, but I told myself he’s just being cautious. I’ll grow on him. Months after our first meeting, when he remained indifferent, I decided I loved him enough for both of us. I chased Mazzie metaphorically and sometimes literally for a year with him offering little attention in return. Then, when I’d finally stopped hoping for something more meaningful with Mazzie, he finally began to return my love.
Mazzie is a minipig who lives at Indraloka Animal Sanctuary in Dalton, PA. He was rescued, along with several goats, from a hoarding situation. Like most of the animals who arrive at Indraloka, Mazzie was in bad shape. His spine had been partially crushed and he was unable to use his rear legs. To get around, he propelled himself forward with his front legs and dragged his hindquarters. The paralysis had caused issues with his bladder and colon. He needed a wheelchair, physical therapy, and help with the processes of elimination. He was severely underweight. Understandably, Mazzie wasn’t fond of most humans and long after his physical injuries had healed—today, Mazzie has a proper pot belly and scampers around using three of his four legs—his emotional scars were painfully obvious.
Minipigs—all pigs—are highly sensitive beings. They are drama queens. They are a lot like dogs, only much more intelligent. Like dogs, minipigs are bred solely for companionship. They swish their tails when they’re happy. They respond positively to treats and they love belly rubs. Pigs’ sense of smell enables them to detect something yummy even if it’s buried under ten feet of grass and dirt. Pigs have extraordinary memories and they’re excellent at math. If, for example, you show a minipig six strawberries and you offer him only five, hiding one for yourself, he will know. And he will not be happy.
Little Mazzie is the minniest of the minis at Indraloka. He looks a lot like The Lion King’s Pumbaa, only darker. Mazzie is all black with soulful brown eyes. In the summer, he’s often covered in mud to help him stay cool and protect his delicate skin from the sun. Mazzie’s hobbies include rooting around in his pasture and snuggling with his best friend Chandra.
I earned Mazzie’s trust through loving consistency and apples. Yes, I bribed him into returning my affection. I volunteer at the Sanctuary weekly, mucking stalls, sorting produce, refilling water troughs. It’s my favorite place in the world and Mazzie and Chandra are perhaps my favorites of the more than 200 animals who live there and have brought so much joy and meaning to my life.
The Sanctuary and the animals there have taught me about developing qualities for a happier, more connected life. I’ve learned the power of tenacity, the gift of resilience, and the wisdom of discernment. These are qualities that define both Mazzie and Chandra as much as their adorable snouts, enthusiastic squeals, and curly pigtails.
It was smart of Mazzie not to trust me too quickly; he’d been horribly let down by humans. While some of the animals at the Sanctuary came to us as victims of deliberate harm, many, like Mazzie, were surrendered by knuckleheads—people who thought raising farm animals would be fun, but were clueless about how to care for them and didn’t bother to get the necessary help. Stupidity is dangerous. Mazzie’s spine was crushed when he was herded into a U-Haul with dozens of other animals, and driven to a different animal rescue. Most likely, the animals rattled around in that U-Haul during the drive and one or more of them inadvertently stomped poor little Mazzie.
Mazzie does not feel sorry for himself. He didn’t give up when he couldn’t ambulate and he actually refused to use the wheelchair that was custom made for him. He was determined to walk again. Sweet little Mazzie, the mini pig with the gigantic heart.
For information on Indraloka Animal Sanctuary and to schedule a visit, check out Indraloka.org.
