Bubbles
Bubbles is a great “people pig! He is young, very intelligent (of course!), and was raised by human hands. He loves his people!
You’ll know me right away by my white hair, marked by black “bubbles.” I came to Robin’s Nest on June 18, 2025, which makes me the newest resident. That’s my new birthday!I have my own piggery right now, and we are working toward the me joining the OG three little pigs. I think Michael and I could be good friends because we both know what it means to feel like an outsider.
Bubbles was raised in a tiny city yard with a dog; Bubbles needed more room as well as his own “herd.” Bubbles sits on command and performs a stupendous “spin.”
Kimber gets about 50 calls per month! Some are seeking advice on a specific animal or care issue, but most are inquires about surrender. In the US, owners surrender 1.6 million small animals (dogs, cats…) per year, making owner surrenders second only to stray shelter intakes. These estimates do not include those who are abandoned by owners. There are no accurate estimate for small farm animals, though we believe the number would be significantly higher. Common reasons for surrender include housing issues, financial constraints, aggressive behavior and having too many animals in the household.
Many factors enter the decision process for acceptance into the Robin’s Nest family. Because we are a sanctuary (ie, a forever home for all who enter), by necessity Kimber bears the responsibility of considering constraints on space, financial resources of RNR, health and other individual needs of the animal in question as well as the other residents. All these factors determine the “fit,” which includes a number of complicated situations within the ranch and in our programming. For every intake, Kimber may spend several weeks to assess the fit, and always makes a personal visit before the final decision.
Bubbles was lucky — Kimber said “yes!” Unfortunately, she has to say no most of the time, and those responses are very difficult — part of the “emotional labor” tied to animal welfare work. Emotional labor was first recognized in the book The Managed Heart by Arlie Russell Hochschild, based on the “regulation of emotions” required of flight attendants. Perhaps there is no more apt example of the breadth and depth of emotional labor than in dealing with abused and abandoned animals. Reports indicate that over half of animal welfare workers experience burnout, often accompanied by secondary trauma.
But…Kimber said “yes” to Bubbles! Bubbles holds great promise to be a popular and loyal ambassador for Robin’s Nest. He’s very gentle, talkative, intelligent, and loves people. He sits on command and performs a very cute (if a little slow!) spin! Currently, Bubbles is undergoing treatment for elbow dysplasia, a condition in the joint due to irresponsible breeding practices that result in smaller and smaller animals. Sadly, the condition is not uncommon for potbelly pigs.
Everything is looking up, and we are looking forward to Bubbles being able to enjoy interacting with our guests! You’re going to love him!
Piggy Points:
Contrary to stereotypes, pigs are not “dirty” animals. They do not attract flies, and they are virtually odor free. They do, however, enjoy eating with gusto and love a mud bath, which regulates their temperature and protects them from sunburn.
Pigs are fast runners! They also can be good swimmers in shallow water.
Pigs love being with other pigs. When sleeping, they like to cuddle close together. They represent some of the most social of animals!
Potbelly pigs are the fourth smartest animal group on the planet, following only humans, apes/chimps, and whales/dolphins.