Garden centre to adopt 2 little pigs

Young McDonnell who has a “petting farm” has adopted two little piggies who needed a home.

Garden centre owner Nathan McDonnell said last night he was confident that Tia and Tamara, the Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs, would settle in well to their new home alongside his Ballyseedy Garden Centre outlet in Cork.

Transport arrangements are being finalised in the hope that the sisters, who were put up for adoption by the Cork Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (CSPCA) last week, will be able to move to Carrigtwohill next week.

CSPCA chairman, Vincent Cashman said he was delighted that the story, featured in the Irish Examiner last week, has had a happy ending. “We had a great response to the appeal,” said Mr Cashman.

“We had about 18 calls from people offering the pigs a home.

“We considered them all, then narrowed it down to two of the most suitable.

“And Ballyseedy came out on top.”

Tia and Tamara were given up for adoption last week by their Tipperary owner who was had to emigrate.

She approached the CSPCA to ensure that her pets found a suitable new home.

Mr McDonnell said he read about Tia and Tamara’s plight in the Irish Examiner and immediately phoned the CSPCA.

He already keeps donkeys, alpacas, ducks and hens on land alongside the Carrigtwohill garden centre and he said he thought the pigs would fit in well.

“They will be well minded and cared for.

“We have a lot of space next to our garden centre here. We are building a lovely pen for them at the moment.”

Mr McDonnell said he thought they would be another added attraction for his customers.