05/21/2026
Gilbert the Party Pig in Connecticut? 🚫🚫🚫
Please do your research before supporting places that represent themselves as a rescue or sanctuary.
Gilbert’s owner is fundraising to begin a sanctuary here in CT. They currently take their pigs all over the state to yoga events, schools, birthday parties and nursing homes using them for monetary gain. We as a sanctuary do not condone using animals for personal profit. The other side to this is outlined below:
Many people may not be aware of a past animal cruelty case in Connecticut involving Terence Burns of Darien, which was widely reported by several local news outlets in 2017–2018.
Terence Burns is the husband of Michelle Burns, who operates a pig-related entertainment business known publicly as “Gilbert the Party Pig.” Because animals are involved in public-facing businesses, we believe transparency is important.
According to reporting from multiple Connecticut news outlets, Burns operated a pet boarding service called “Terry’s House of Pets” out of his home. Authorities later determined that the operation was an unlicensed kennel.
The investigation began after a 13-month-old golden retriever named Betsy, owned by a New Canaan resident, died while in Burns’ care in July 2017. According to police and veterinary findings referenced in the investigation, the dog likely died from heatstroke after prolonged exposure to extreme heat before being brought to an emergency veterinary hospital.
Police reports also stated that Burns initially told the dog’s owner and veterinarians that the dog had collapsed after playing outside, but veterinary evidence did not support that explanation.
During the investigation, authorities reported receiving multiple complaints regarding conditions at the home-based kennel, including allegations that dogs were kept in cramped cages in a garage and sometimes inside a vehicle, with unsanitary conditions present.
Burns was arrested in October 2017 and charged with animal cruelty and operating an unlicensed kennel.
In March 2018, he pleaded guilty to animal cruelty in Stamford Superior Court. According to court reporting, he received a suspended jail sentence, two years of probation, a fine, and was required to undergo a psychological evaluation. As part of the probation conditions, he was prohibited from working with animals during that time.
The dog’s owner submitted a statement to the court describing the devastating loss of her dog and urging the court to recognize the seriousness of the case.
As an animal rescue organization focused on animal welfare, education, and advocacy, we believe animals deserve to be treated with compassion and respect. Our mission is centered on education and proper care, and we encourage the public to carefully consider how animals are used in businesses and entertainment settings.
We strongly encourage anyone reading this to review the articles themselves and draw their own conclusions. Transparency and awareness are critical when it comes to protecting animals.
Original reporting:
• https://newcanaanite.com/man-charged-with-animal-cruelty-following-new-canaan-dogs-death-seeks-a-form-of-parole-61337
• https://darienite.com/police-dog-died-care-darien-man-lied-animals-owner-veterinarians-cops-27034
• https://connecticut.news12.com/police-darien-man-ran-illegal-kennel-out-of-home-faces-charges-36588687
• https://newcanaanite.com/animal-cruelty-guilty-plea-suspended-prison-sentence-for-man-in-whose-care-new-canaan-dog-died-65657
• https://darienite.com/darien-man-pleads-guilty-animal-cruelty-gets-suspended-prison-sentence-30717
• https://newcanaanite.com/my-sweet-girl-was-truly-special-new-canaan-womans-statement-on-puppy-killed-in-darien-mans-care-added-to-animal-cruelty-case-64100
Disclaimer: The information above is a factual summary based on publicly available news reporting and court records. Source articles are linked to this post so readers can review the reporting themselves.
Credit: thank you Clover's Pig Preserve for gathering this most valuable information!!!
