mission to save 25 pigs from
abuse and slaughter. CPR volunteers
traveled cross-country
several times to get the pigs to
their forever homes.
“So many pigs were pregnant
at the time of rescue because
none of the pigs were
fixed. Twenty-five pigs quickly
turned into 39 pigs,” she says.
“We are proud to say that we
found homes for all the mothers
where they can keep and
raise their babies.”
Despite such successes, one
of the group’s biggest challenges
is finding loving homes for
pigs. Noga says the struggle of
having too many pigs and not
enough homes is why she’s so
passionate about helping people
set up microsanctuaries.
“There needs to be more
homes to take some of the overwhelming
pressure off larger
sanctuaries,” she says. “I meet
a lot of people who dream of
opening a sanctuary but admit
they probably won’t. I want to
send the message that you can
provide a life-changing sanctuary
for a pig in your home
without completely changing
your whole life. It takes training
and work, but it is doable
and accessible.”
To address these issues and
others, CPR divides its work
into three categories: physical
rescue, community building
and education.
The physical work, which
Noga says is the group’s primary
goal, includes rescuing, fostering
and rehoming. Community
building means supporting
sanctuaries and microsanctuaries
by raising funds for medical
care, holding donation drives
and volunteering. Education is
about providing resources for
pig parents, which Noga says
makes a difference in lowering
the rehoming rate for pigs.
“There is a learning curve
when it comes to adjusting to
life with pigs,” she says. “New
pig parents need support
from experienced pig parents
to help them problem-solve
and acclimate to life with a
pig, add a pig to a herd, or
whatever it may be.”
As with most rescue organizations,
volunteers are crucial
to CPR’s work. The core rescuers
are Noga, Tassone and others
— including Phoebe Conner
and Chess Valenti — who
have backgrounds in pig rescue
and sanctuary work.
Noga says new volunteers
are welcome, and the group
provides training to those who
want to help.
“We absolutely would love to
connect with more people who
are interested in volunteering,”
she says. “Pigs need more people
in their corner. The need is
truly overwhelming.”
BY PLANTED STAFF
RESCUE
PARTNERS
Everest, Bear
and Scout came
to Sweet Petunias
Microsanctuary in
December 2020
after they were
found wandering in
southern Kentucky.
Right, April Noga and
Tyler Tassone deliver
Spot and Pickles
(shown) to Farm in
the Woods rescue
in Indiana. CPR had
met Pittsburgh-based
Pigsburgh Squealers
Rescue in Ohio
to help complete
the pair’s rescue
from poor living
conditions.
Planted | 25