The journey of a piglet
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From the moment they are born, piglets on factory farms are denied the warmth and care of their mothers. Instead, they endure painful procedures and cramped conditions. This Giving Tuesday, you can help change their story.
Pigs are some of the most intelligent and social animals on the planet, but for millions of piglets born into factory farms each year, their journey is one of hardship and suffering.
A mother's natural instincts are denied
When piglets are born in more natural and humane conditions, their mother would spend days carefully creating a soft nest for them. For the first few months of their lives, they would sleep by her side, communicating through gentle vocalizations and touch.
Photo: Andrea DiSavino / Shutterstock
On factory farms, this natural bond is shattered. Piglets are taken from their mothers within weeks of birth, cutting short a connection that is critical for their emotional and physical well-being. The mother pig is confined in a cramped cage, unable to nurture her young, let alone turn around.
Newborn piglets and their mother in a factory farm. (Photo: CHIRATH PHOTO / Shutterstock)
Piglets endure painful procedures
At just a few days old, piglets in factory farms undergo painful procedures like tail docking, ear notching, tooth clipping and castration—often without any pain relief. Some of these procedures are done to prevent the pigs from hurting each other in the overcrowded conditions they’re forced to live in.
Pigs live in cramped quarters
After weaning, piglets are moved to overcrowded pens where they have little space to move or explore. These naturally curious animals, who would typically spend their days foraging and playing, are denied even the most basic needs. They often stand on hard, slatted floors, and many suffer from infections or injuries due to the filthy conditions.
Photo: Thuwanan Krueabudda / Shutterstock
Their lives, from the moment they are born, are spent in a system designed to maximize profit, with little regard for their welfare.
Help transform the journey of piglets
This heartbreaking journey doesn't have to be the reality for piglets. We are fighting to change the way pigs are treated, working with governments and food businesses to end cruel practices and implement higher welfare farming practices.
Piglets with their mother on a high-welfare farm. (Photo: Viktor Osipenko / Shutterstock)
This Giving Tuesday, you can double your impact for piglets and their mothers. Thanks to a generous donor, your gift will be matched up to $40,000, giving twice the support to campaigns that advocate for better animal welfare.
Together, we can create a world where piglets grow up in natural environments, cared for by their mothers and free from the horrors of factory farms. With your support, we can rewrite the story for millions of piglets born into suffering. Donate today and help create a better future for them.
Banner photo: Manop Boonpeng / Shutterstock