Shy piggy blossoms with a little help from his friend

Smokey, a portly potbellied pig with unique white markings, now spends his days rooting out treasure and cuddling with his new piggy pal, Peter. This piggy is thriving in his new home, thanks to adopter Morgan Denning (and Peter, of course), but first he had to shed his shy exterior.

When Morgan visited Marshall’s Piggy Paradise at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary with her family, they couldn’t decide whether they wanted to adopt another pig or two goats. They have a small hobby farm just a few hours away from the Sanctuary with a variety of animals, including young Peter the pig, who needed a friend.

“We checked out a few goats, but when we met Smokey, I just had a gut feeling that he’s the one,” recalls Morgan.

Smokey, sweet yet reserved, needed someone patient to let him come out of his shell. Morgan was just that person, and it sounded like Morgan’s young, outgoing pig Peter might be just the right kind of friend for him as well.

Now they just needed to work on introductions. But because Smokey was so shy, there was concern that bringing him to Morgan’s home for the introduction might be too stressful. The solution? An extended swine sleepover at the Sanctuary.

“Peter's more open to change,” says Morgan. “He loves new areas and new people, so I thought it would easier to take Peter to the Sanctuary rather than bringing Smokey down here to meet with a new pig and be out of his comfort zone.”

[A shy pig’s journey]

So Morgan set off for the Sanctuary with Peter. Caregivers prepared a large, private barn area where Peter and Smokey could strike up a friendship at their own pace.

“We started by letting them spend some time near each other with a fence between them,” explains caregiver Rosalie Wind. “Once that went well, we introduced them in a larger space, so they could get more comfortable together.”

The introduction was seamless due, in part, to Peter’s outgoing nature and confidence. His interest in Smokey and the world around him helped Smokey begin to emerge from his shell.

After about a week — and many adorable snoot boops — Smokey’s caregivers and Morgan knew this pairing was a match made in piggy heaven. Now it was time for these new piggy pals to go home with Morgan together.

As they settled into their new home, Smokey took his time adjusting, with Peter by his side every step of the way. Sweet Peter seemed to understand that his new big brother needed extra comfort and security, snuggling close to Smokey in the warm straw every night. Over time, Peter’s playful encouragement began to work wonders on Smokey’s confidence. Little by little, Smokey ventured out, and now, the two pigs love roaming the pasture together. They’ve even discovered hidden treasures like an old set of keys buried in the dirt. Morgan often catches them rooting around, side by side, like a little team of treasure hunters.

[Fun and games for pigs]

“Peter’s influence has really helped us bond with Smokey,” says Morgan. “When we first brought him home, he was so scared we couldn’t even pet him. Now, not only can we pet him, but even our neighbors can when they watch the pigs while we're away.”

Smokey’s even starting to embrace his new role as big brother, and the results are adorable. “Smokey taught Peter how to roll in the mud,” laughs Morgan. “Before, Peter would step in the mud hole and cover his legs. That was it. Now he gets all crazy rolling in the mud with Smokey. It’s so funny and cute.”

Reflecting on the transformation, Morgan shares, “Seeing how far Smokey has come since we first met him is incredible, and it makes me super, super, super happy that we were able to give him a home that he feels comfortable in.”

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill in 2025. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.