Truffle the pig had a rough start to life.
She and her buddy, Trixie, were two of just three pigs that survived after being left to starve on a farm near Windsor. The pigs had to resort to cannibalism to stay alive.
But after the pair were rescued and brought to Wishing Well Sanctuary in Bradford West Gwillimbury five years ago, they are much happier.
But they need more room.
Now, the animal sanctuary is looking for the community’s help to raise money to build a larger area for its 16 pigs and two of its horses.
“We’re expanding into our forest. It’ll be a whole other space for the pigs. That’ll give them oodles of more room,” said Brenda Bronfman, founder of Wishing Well Sanctuary.
It will cost about $5,000 to expand an area just for the pigs and a separate area for two of the horses, Penny and Sweet Pea, she said.
Penny had a recent health scare and cannot eat grass right now, so she is in a smaller paddock with a dirt base, separate from the other horses, except for her best friend Sweet Pea to keep her company.
Wishing Well Sanctuary recently started a GoFundMe fundraising page, and, as of Monday afternoon, had raised more than $2,200 of its $5,000 goal.
A parent of one of its volunteers has also pledged to match donations up to $3,000, Bronfman said.
An expanded area for the horses and pigs will give them more room to run around and explore.
“Pigs are very, very smart. They need a lot of enrichment. They’ll have a whole new experience,” Bronfman said, adding a forest environment will give them trees to rub against and old logs to root around.
“They’re well loved and looked after, but wherever we can do more, we want to do more.”
Wishing Well Sanctuary, located at 2710 10th Line in Bradford, is home to nearly 70 former farm animals, including cows, llamas, donkeys, roosters and cats.
It regularly hosts tours, workshops and lectures for the community. The next tour is July 28 at 12:30 p.m. For more information, visit the website.
