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Sanctuary saves Rosie’s bacon
23.08.10
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by Linda McGrory
A PIG who survived booze-ups in the pub has become a
firm favourite among visitors to an animal sanctuary
that rescued her from the bottle.
Rosie, a loveable British saddleback who weighs-in
at a whopping 350 kilos, was cruelly paraded as a
piglet at a St Patrick's Day parade in rural Co
Sligo and fed beer for fun until she was drunk.
She was rescued by Sligo Animal Rescue who brought
her to zoologist Lothar F. Muschketat who runs a
wildlife research centre and pet zoo with his family
at Portinch, Co Sligo.
"I am told the person who owned her previously, took
her to the pub as an attraction. As I understand it,
Rosie was made to drink beer until she was drunk,"
said Mr Muschketat. “Alcohol is no good for
piglets.”
Rosie, who is now two years old, was underweight and
ravaged with disease when she was brought to the
idyllic countryside sanctuary at just four months
old and about the size of a small collie dog.
"She was very under-nourished, had a bacterial
infection, diarrhoea, mites and worms. She probably
would have died within a couple of weeks had she
stayed where she was," added Mr Muschketat. |
His team, including
biologist wife Regina, lovingly nursed Rosie back to
full health at their scientifically-managed wildlife
and raptor research centre, Eagles Flying. The
couple gave her antibiotics, put her on a proper
diet and allowed her to roam freely around their
large compound of fields. She is now a thriving,
fun-loving animal who happily mingles with the
Muscheketat's menagerie of rescued animals including
eagles, hawks, donkeys, dogs, chinchillas, ferrets,
rabbits and a racoon.
She has become not only a favourite with the
Muschketat family, but is a huge hit too with the
centre's 15,000 annual visitors.
"Rosie is a special pig. She's highly intelligent
and is used to being around people. |
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Rosie gives this young visitor a ride
on her back, accompanied by zoologist Lothar
Muschketat. |
She's a very
affectionate lady and loves a cuddle, but she can be
moody too, especially if you wake her when she wants
a lie in," quipped the zoologist.
A spokesperson for Sligo Animal Rescue said: "Rosie
had a traumatic time as a young piglet. She was left
running up and down the streets on St Patrick's Day
two years ago and was fed beer and peanuts in the
pub afterwards. She was then roaming about the place
alone for a few days. We're delighted she's thriving
so well now with Lothar." |
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