Piglet Rescued From Lorry Becomes 'Real-Life Babe'
Tom, a six-month-old piglet found abandoned on the roadside, has found a new home at an animal sanctuary and lives a life of comfort and companionship.
A piglet named Tom, saved after falling from a lorry en route to slaughter, has become a beloved resident of an animal sanctuary, embodying the spirit of the famous fictional pig, Babe. Tom, now six months old, enjoys a life of comfort, complete with cuddly toys, and friendly interactions with chickens and cats, even rolling over for belly rubs.
Carole Webb, 82, a retired veterinary nurse who runs the Farm Animal Rescue Sanctuary, rescued Tom in March. He was found barely a day old on the side of a road with his umbilical cord still attached. Webb believes Tom's mother may have given birth during transport, and the piglet fell through gaps in the trailer. A member of the public found him and kept him warm overnight before bringing him to Webb.
Initially the size of a kitten, Tom was hand-reared indoors with the aid of hot water bottles and heat pads. Six months later, he has grown into a pig weighing between 200 and 220 kilograms (approximately 440-485 pounds). He is described by Webb as being more like a dog, responding to his name, following people around, and playing with a treat ball. He has a particular fondness for a large fluffy toy pig, often resting over it.
Tom, named after the Lord of the Rings character Tom Bombadil, now roams a three-acre field at the sanctuary in Wolverton, Stratford-upon-Avon. His preferred companions are the sanctuary's chickens. He resides in his own house and enjoys the company of the cats and chickens, though he is not mixed with the sheep due to his boisterous nature.
The sanctuary, which cares for approximately 350 animals including sheep, cats, and chickens, is currently fundraising to acquire new land and continue its operations.