When we went from one to twenty nine pigs in less than a year, I realized that in order to continue our rescue efforts it would be necessary to generate additional funds to contribute to their support. We work long hours every day, at regular jobs to finance ourselves, our home, and the animals. We don't go out except to the yard to clean up and make sure the animals are healthy, talked to, and loved upon. Believe it or not, that is really okay. They are so thankful to be safe, well fed, loved, and cared for. They let us know in the most obvious ways. We don't mind so much doing without vacations, dinners out, and those sorts of things many folks consider meaningful, in order to provide a good life to the animals in our care.
Darlynn's Darlins Inc., was created in March, 2001, and granted 501(C)3 status by the IRS. This tells everyone that money coming into this corporation is used directly for the animals and their care. Unlike some non profits, money given here will be used for the direct care of the animals, not for outrageous administrative expenses, exhorbitant salaries for corporate officers, travel expenses, food and lodging, and the like. If someone is kind enough to make a donation of time, money, materials, or the other necessities of running a sanctuary, it is a tax deductible donation for them and will be used exclusively for the animals.
A website seemed like a good idea as it can not only provide a way to offer things for sale in an effort to raise much needed funds for rescue and care, but it can also provide a means for communicating valuable information to anyone needing help with an animal problem. Since a major focus of the corporation is education of the public about potbelly and other kinds of pigs as well as other types of animals, the website is an effective medium for getting important information to large numbers of people quickly.
The need for a Potbelly Pig Rescue and Sanctuary became apparent when we came to know HOW MANY pigs are being bred by backyard breeders and how many people buying them are ill-equipped to deal with the incredible intelligence and curiosity of a pig. The end result of these factors has led to literally thousands of abandoned, abused, and neglected potbelly pigs across this country. Still more are being forced out of the very few appropriate homes available by archaic zoning laws that address potbelly pigs as farm animals instead of the companion pets they became. They were originally imported into this country to become zoo animals.
This is a very serious problem, unknown to the general public, and is growing every day. These animals are showing up in Animal Controls and Humane Societies all over the country and they are being put to sleep or sent to auction because there is nowhere for them to go and nobody to take care of them. This is a potentially huge problem because the general public has an habitual attitude about pigs, most of it along the lines of so what, it's "just" a pig. Do you realize that "just a pig" less than 12 hours old can walk and teach itself to eat out of a dish in order to survive? Can you think of any other animal that can do that, including the human one?
We have made it our mission in life to rescue and save as many as money and proper facilities will allow, while at the same time mounting an educational effort to end backyard breeding of all animals and make people aware of the tremendous responsibility of owning a pet pig, or pet of any kind.
Darlynn's Darlins, Inc., strives to prevent a situation developing with potbelly pigs that is akin to the one that exists today with dogs and cats. Our society euthanizes a "pet" cat or dog every six seconds around the clock. MILLIONS of "pet" animals every single year, year after year.
THINK ABOUT THAT.......
WE OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED.
WE OUGHT TO BE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
WE OUGHT TO BE ASKING FOR HELP TO DO IT.
So we are asking.
Help US help the animals. The HSUS has a tremendous donation base yet mostly helps the more mainstream animals. We hope you will help us become the organization that is able to care about and look after one of the less mainstream but equally deserving animals. The ones the general public has not yet come to know and care about. Help us become able to start the educational process that sooner or later must come. People cannot continue to use, abuse, and generally disregard the other animals of this planet forever. Human disregard for the other beings on this earth cannot continue unabated.
Change will only come with conscious thought and education or some catalyst to instigate conscious thought about the situation. We think the catalyst is education and the non-violent exposure of what goes on every day. We hold out hope that IF we can get people to THINK ABOUT the human attitude toward other animals, and their habitat, that attitude will start to change. We believe that WHEN it starts to change, the whole world will be better for it.
link to more info
Our Philosophy is that if we (humans) are indeed the "Superior Species" on this planet, then there comes with it a certain responsibility to protect and care for the lessor and weaker of the others. There comes with it the responsibility of thinking before we act since we are given the gift of intellect. There comes with it the responsibility of correction when things are not the way they should be with regard to the 'others' and when our own kind have ceased to consider the consequences of their actions to those other than themselves. If we are to claim superiority over the other animals, we must be willing to demonstrate it. Superiority has nothing to do with money, greed, technology, and selfishness. It has to do with being more evolved and having a better understanding of the true nature of things. It has to do with respect for everything else as for ourselves.
Darlynn's Darlins works closely with other organizations interested in pig welfare. The Duchess Fund, also a non profit organization, has taken on the task of formally documenting the numerous porcine maladies of which we are just coming to be aware. Noah's Ark, on the west coast of Florida is another non profit rescue, sanctuary, and adoption center. PAPA is a non profit organization based in Ft Myers, FL, which coordinates the rescue and placement of pigs in trouble and provides information about pigs as pets as well as educational materials. There are numerous other organizations outside Florida working to ease the abandoned potbelly pig problem in their areas. This is an unrecognized and unfunded nationwide problem. Most of us do this work out of our own pockets for the love of the animal. We at Darlynn's Darlins want to bring the problem to light through education and working with others who are trying to make a difference also, one animal at a time.
link to sanctuary page
Barbara Baker, founder of The Duchess Fund organization, works endlessly trying to encourage pet pig owners to forward their pets' medical records and necropsy summaries for inclusion in the first ever data base specifically designed to assist owners and the veterinary medical profession in the effective treatment of potbelly pigs.
On the west coast of Florida, near New Port Richey, is Noah's Ark Potbelly Pig Rescue and Sanctuary. Lynne Boismier, the founder of Noah's Ark, is able to place more pigs in appropriate new homes than perhaps any other rescue or sanctuary in Florida. Noah's Ark Potbelly Pig Rescue, Sanctuary, and Adoption Center