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This is such an endearing
story, we couldn’t help reprinting this
from the September-November 2004 issue of Australia’s Vegan
Voice.
Each year in Australia about five million pigs lose their lives to satisfy the human desire for pig flesh. A quirk of fate and a desire for a “babe” saw Edgar Alan’s lot in life change, although at the time I don’t think he was too excited about the deal. The journalist had arranged for a photo shoot at a children’s farm, paying for the use of the pig. I had a few problems with this, one being the ethics of paying people who aren’t up front with children about the raw deal farm animals get. I suggested we could get our own piglet. “Great,” the journalist uttered. What was I thinking! After the logistics of how to acquire a piglet from a local piggery were met, I was entrusted with Edgar Alan’s guardianship. Two problems quickly arose: the photo shoot was the day after Edgar was “procured,” and the extent of my knowledge of pig husbandry was that I was…well, I was very good at looking after cats, dogs, horses and the occasional wildlife. Edgar was putrid! And just a tad indignant about having to travel several hundred kilometers in a box thingy with a small dog (ET) peering at him all the time and an equally excited driver singing and chatting incessantly all the way home. Ah, but there was work to be done—how to clean this pig and “train” him for the photo shoot the next day. In theory it should have worked well; putting it into practice presented several problems, not the least obtaining Edgar’s cooperation. So there we were—me, Mum and Edgar Alan—and a kitchen covered in soapsuds. Mum was wet, I was wet, and Edgar was not happy. But scrub and scrub away, and the smell! Lesson one: young pigs become rather flatulent when annoyed. But the end result—a shining new piglet—justified the means. Luckily Edgar had quickly grown fond of ET, although he had not at this point decided I was the good guy. (ET is yet another little waif who also cheated death by finding his way into my life, but that is another story.) So in ET I had an ally. Edgar would happily follow ET around for hours and they delighted us all with their play. The two of them curled up in their baskets by the fire was a sight to warm the hardest heart and it certainly melted mine, but I was already gone for Edgar Alan. I had yet to discover the way to Edgar’s heart was through his love of Weetbix and warm soymilk. A Star is Born The photo shoot the next day could not have gone better; there I was, pig handler extraordinnaire (not!), having Edgar dutifully “parading” on a leash, all the time following ET. But what the heck, we managed to wing it and the story was great. And so the Edgar Alan Pig juggernaut had begun. The next media event was set for the steps of Parliament House, Victoria. Edgar, along with his now close mate James Cromwell, was to present the Minister for Agriculture with “Ban Sow Stalls Now” postcards signed by the cast and crew of Salem’s Lot, a film which was being shot here with actors Donald Sutherland, Rob Lowe and Rutger Hauer. All were appalled to hear of the plight of pregnant sows and had no hesitation in lending their voice to the protest. So there we were on the steps of Parliament House: James, postcards in hand, the Minister’s representative Geoff Howard, and one Edgar Alan Pig. Things were going to plan until young Edgar decided it was time to relieve himself (or perhaps he was making a political point about his thoughts on sow stalls). Anyway, he is the only one I know who has urinated and defecated on the steps of Parliament House and gotten away with it. This pig was a natural. By charming just about everyone he met he was unwittingly spreading the message that “food animals” are possessed with sentience never before credited to them. People were coming face to face with a creature whose life they could so easily end simply by their dietary choices. He was, and still is, the meat industry’s worst nightmare. But Edgar’s mission was far from over. There were more bridges to cross and kilometers to cover. Not to be outdone by their southern cousins, New South Wales now wanted a piece of the Edgar Alan action. And why not? This pig loved attention, loved a crowd (and what pig wouldn’t, since more people meant more chance of muesli bars) and he loved his pigmobile. Lyn Trakell of the Ballarat Organization for Animal Rights had custom-converted her beloved campervan—virtually gutted it and refurnished it with crisp, neat straw. The white van was plastered with “Ban Sow Stalls Now” posters and a huge banner bearing these same words. We certainly turned some heads on the highway. Now Lyn, van, pig and I were northward bound. Lyn had cleverly converted an old door into a ramp for Edgar to easily alight and ascend the van. Did I say easily? Well, after much coaxing and several boxes of muesli bars we convinced Edgar it was a good thing. Our first stop presented a few logistical problems but thankfully confirmed the rumor that pigs are extremely quick learners. Prior to our intrepid crew embarking on this daunting adventure we made a pact that if at any time Edgar was stressed by the venture the deal was off. Edgar’s welfare has always been and will always be my priority. Our trip to Sydney and all it entailed seemed like a good idea at the time, but as we set off on the highway the enormity of the task took hold. Would the pig cope; would we cope; would Edgar like people? As we neared Gundagai I had the idea that we should call into this famous tourist haunt and let Edgar do the “talking.” That whistle stop at the home of a famous bronze statue of a dog on a tucker box dispelled any fears I had that the task may have been beyond us all. Alighting his chariot Edgar ambled with great aplomb to the nearest grassed area to relieve himself. Edgar has taught me many things about pigs; not the least is how clean these creatures are, defecating and urinating far from their sleeping area. Never once has he left his calling card in our house, not even when he was a tiny, disgruntled, dirty little piglet. As Edgar inspected the great and famous Gundagai bronze statue, people emerged from everywhere. “Oh my god, it’s a pig,” they cried. “Can I touch him?” “Does he bite?” “Can I have my photo taken with him?” Talk abounded: “Sow stalls?” “What’s a sow stall?” “That’s disgusting, sure I’ll sign a postcard to ban them.” This was his first major encounter with large groups of people from varied backgrounds. As children came rushing up, Edgar Alan rose to the occasion donning his ambassador’s cap and was brilliant! We all proved we were up for it. Taking a backseat to the pig was something I was to become quite accustomed to over the next few days, as Edgar made his way into the photo albums—and hearts—of hundreds. And why shouldn’t he? Have I mentioned I am besotted with this pig? I cannot talk about the little fella—okay, he ain’t that little today—without welling up with emotion. He is the most amazing guy, just like all the millions of individual guys and gals who are slaughtered, tortured in laboratories, made into fur or whatever other fate they suffer at human hands. He is their ambassador, and I am honored to be his guardian. Next stop Murrumbateman, and a meeting with three amazing and delightful people—Ian, Tony and Bede. And most welcome they made us. At their suggestion the next day the Edgar Alan show made its way to Parliament House, Canberra. In the wake of September 11, security took a dim view of the be-postered pigmobile encircling Parliament House. We were questioned by several policemen on bicycles: “And what’s in the van?” “A pig,” replied Lyn sweetly. “Haven’t you ever seen a pig at Parliament House before?” More media—those camera guys just loved taking shots of Edgar’s snout. I would hate to think how many camera lenses Edgar managed to cover with his snout. The result: color picture and page three Canberra Times story, not bad for a boy from the bush! Upward and onward Edgar marched, delivering the message on behalf of his mother and sisters and all his brethren that sow stalls must go. Next stop—the steps of Parliament House, Sydney. “Animal liberationists, a Greens MP and a pig named Edgar,” the headlines read, “converged on Parliament House telling of the suffering of some 180,000 pregnant pigs confined in an area so small they cannot even take a step forward or back.” Edgar, becoming a bit blasé about it all by now, decided to have a sleep right in the middle of the entrance, with politicians having to step over his snoozing body. A delightful picture appeared on the Reuters website of the big, burly and patient security guard standing arms akimbo over Edgar requesting a rather bemused me to make him move. Humble Ambassador Next stop Pitt Street Mall. Here Edgar spent a leisurely hour “chatting” to passersby, who were rather taken aback to see a real live pig in the mall. Edgar gently offered each his snout and a little grunt. What that pig did that day to advance the cause of animal rights is beyond anything I have ever been able to achieve. And what did he do? What nature has uniquely and beautifully equipped him to do, be a pig! As he lay on the pavement having his tummy caressed (one of his personal favorites) people’s faces just lit up. “How can I ever eat pork again?” I heard several mutter. Even if those same folk don’t ever become vegan, they will certainly have a different view of their meat. I will always remember one senior gentleman in a business suit who spoke with us for at least 15 minutes, learning of the sentience of pigs and in particular the plight of pregnant sows. His interest was genuine and his concern real and I am proud to have been part of that special moment. While in Sydney we had the absolute pleasure of enjoying the hospitality of the legendary Elsie Quinn, who plays host to many animal activists in her lovely home. Elsie took great delight in telling her friends that she was to play host to two friends from Melbourne and a pig. Edgar’s early morning strolls on the streets of the exclusive suburb of Double Bay again sparked discussion as joggers stopped to pat, admire and chat with Edgar and me. What a conversation starter was this humble little pig. Edgar has since made a few public appearances, but due to the restraints of his size his “duties” are largely confined to home, but he is still spreading the message that “pork” does have a face to all who pass through our little property here at Willowmavin. I remember with great fondness the joy of meeting kindred spirits on our Sydney trip; meeting fellow vegans even for the first time is like coming home. So often on the journey of life I feel like a round peg in a square hole, but not on the Sydney sojourn. Some may argue that banning sow stalls is not in keeping with the principles of veganism and abolition of animal exploitation and I agree fully, but I feel we must temper what we want to achieve with what we can. I too want the world to go vegan right now, but reality says it won’t. What will really start the ball rolling on the way towards veganism is for the meat-guzzling carnivore to stop and think about the life he has just eaten, that “it” had feelings and the capacity to suffer and that he has caused that suffering by his dietary choices. The campaign to ban sow stalls is a plea for a better deal for sentient creatures. And Edgar, well, his antics never cease to make me smile. Only yesterday I spied him in the front yard with a large branch in his mouth, tossing it up in the air and doing his now famous Edgar dance.(Boy, can that pig bust a move, and if you stand too close he can now bust your toe!) I called out to him and he came charging up the paddock as fast as his trotters would allow, branch in mouth and making his famous ruff ruff noise. I’m laughing now just telling you about it. But always at the back of my mind, tugging my conscience, are all the pigs and other so-called farm/food animals I can do nothing for. I have made a difference to but one pig. My pact to them is to do my utmost to highlight their lot, and hopefully sow the seed to make others think and open their hearts. Pam Ahern grew up realizing that the kindest thing you can do for animals is not eat them and now dedicates her life to championing their cause. She is also a sucker for a cute pig. This article was originally published in the September-November 2004 issue of Vegan Voice, a quarterly Australian magazine promoting compassion for all beings. Annual subscriptions to the U.S. are available via credit card for approximately U.S.$31. Visit http://veganic.net or contact VegVoice@lis.net.au. Reprinted with kind permission.
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