Lovin Malta reached out to Leila Scott from the Sunshine Sanctuary, which recently managed to save eight pigs that had been roaming around Malta’s streets.

“Malta needs a pig sanctuary, or for changes to be made to existing laws,” Scott told Lovin Malta.

“This is becoming a really difficult problem to tackle. We recently saved eight as you know, six of whom are still in government quarantine in tiny pens on concrete floors with no hay or straw.”

“I am desperately trying to home them, but it is extremely challenging. At Sunshine Sanctuary, we currently have six and cannot take in more,” she said.

She also appealed that the laws stipulating that people are only allowed two pet pigs need to be changed, and also called for harsher sentences when it comes to illegal breeding and those selling pigs as “micro pigs”. 

“As long as the pigs are chipped, registered, and neutered then what is the issue? Yet pig farmers can breed and slaughter like there’s no tomorrow,” she said.

“There is no such thing as a micro pig. They are grown to be big. It is just a selling tactic,” she said.

Finally, she appealed to the government to allocate a piece of land for a pig sanctuary, in order for these beings to have a place to go when they end up on the streets. 

“The government has so much land here just sitting there unused. It would be great if a piece of land could be used as a pig sanctuary. We could manage it as part of our sanctuary, as limited space prevents us from helping more pigs.”

“Pigs have just as many rights as dogs. They are sentient beings who also deserve care and protection. And more people should open up to the idea of adopting a pet pig. They make wonderful companion animals. They are intelligent, social, clean, and very easy to potty-train.”

“It is an issue that must be addressed and tackled.”

Do you think a pig sanctuary is needed in Malta?