06/01/2026
Life can change on a dime. We just celebrated one year since Zoey came into care, and this past weekend, we were afraid we were going to lose her. 🥺
Zoey contracted erysipelas, a bacterial infection from wild bird f***s that can quickly prove fatal. Although we’re diligent in cleaning and changing their water bowls, troughs, and pools, this is a farm sanctuary. It’s outdoors in the country. There are wild birds everywhere. She could have even been infected from grazing in her pasture.
We don’t know exactly how she acquired it. But we knew our sweet girl wasn’t feeling well. She wasn’t running to her caretakers in the joyful way she greets each of them. She didn’t move to get up for breakfast on Saturday. (And she loooves throwing her empty bowl around after.)
She didn’t even lift her head for a treat when a volunteer knelt down beside her and gently tried to prompt her with a banana. 🍌 She broke it up, offering that favorite treat in three bites. Zoey lifted her head, but after only one piece, Zoey didn’t want any more. She put her head back down and laid there quietly. Our hearts sank because we truly knew then, just how sick she was. 😔❤️🩹
Zoey began a penicillin injection regimen (an antibiotic we ALWAYS have on hand for emergencies,) Vitamin B12 injections, and liquid IV. We monitored her fever, gave her aspirin, and placed cool towels on her every 20 minutes until the fever went down. While we snuggled her, we hoped and we wished and we prayed. And we waited...
Saturday was still a very tough day for our Zoey-Ba-Boey. Her larger-than-life presence was missing from her pasture; from the fencing she eagerly presses her snout against when her caretakers come near. They checked on her regularly, and there she was, still resting in her barn.
Early Sunday morning, Zoey still rested peacefully. (Pigs are extremely smart and know when their bodies need rest.) Her best friend Dawson showed the depth of his devotion for his beloved companion and rarely left her side. He kept a vigil over Zoey and if he wasn’t snuggled pressed up against her, he was nudging her to let her know he was always nearby. Anyone that knows pigs knows the bonds they develop with their friends. Zoey and Dawson truly have a very special friendship. 🥹❤️🐽❤️
Later Sunday morning, Zoey began to show small improvements. She delighted the Sunday shift when she slowly exited her barn to come have her snout scratched at the fence line. We entered her pasture to give her some lovin’, thrilled to see her out and about. And what did Zoey do? She rolled for a belly rub. “Thatta girl!,” we cheered! 🥳👏🏼
Life is precious. It’s simultaneously so strong yet so fragile. We look at our beautiful residents and all they’ve overcome, and we’re just astonished. We look into the great unknown and what can threaten their lives, and it’s overwhelming. We can’t be prepared for everything, but we can prepare as much as possible to give each one of them a fighting chance, no matter what may befall them.
If you’d like to donate to Zoey’s recovery and our invaluable stock of medicines and supportive care supplies, we’d be so extremely grateful. 🫶🥹❤️
Zoey survived multiple attempts at botched “surgeries” as a piglet, the pneumonia epidemic in January, and she’s recovering from erysipelas this weekend. Our girl’s got grit!! 👏🏼
She’s had only one year of sanctuary life with her best friend and her beloved caretakers, and she’s NOT looking to cross the muddy rainbow bridge anytime soon. ❤️🩹
Please share in our celebrations that our ZoZo is RECOVERING and stay tuned for more updates on our precious girl! 🥳❤️🩹🐽🥳
Saving snouts links:
If you’d like to send a gift!
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Curious in being a pig sponsor?
🐷 To sponsor a Potbelly Pig: https://givebutter.com/UNkKDQ
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How to donate!
🐽 https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=ZEYMSVHA4NXJQ
🐽Venmo
Venmo: Terri Jo Dercks (four digits = 9531) 🚨CAUTION🚨 When I did a search for “savingsnouts” the results showed a place called “savingsnoots” and that is NOT us. Searching for Terri Jo Dercks is a safer bet
📫 checks can be sent to:
Saving Snouts
N255 DeBruin Rd
Kaukauna,WI 54130
Thank you as always for your kindness, generosity, and loving support! 🐽❤️🥰
