JPG: Stories: Photo Essay: On the Death of Pigs

On the Death of Pigs

By Laura Hartley

9 Aug 2008

Porcine intellect has long been a given, but to gaze into the eyes of the humble pig; of it's intelligence, there is absolutley no question. The two pigs in the first image here were "people friendly," and let us pet them, and seemed to want to go home with us. If only they had.

We had gone to Oklahoma City's Stockyards to see about buying some sheep for our back acres, but instead, found these pretty, pink piggies. We were not, however, early enough to save these two sisters. They had already been bought by auction for slaughter. They had the most charming personalitites, and followed one another everywhere. They greeted us warmly with happy grunts, probably thinking we were deliverers of slop. Intelligent as they are, we knew they did not what their fate would be.

I had already decided to take my camera along because our friend Mark Gilliland (http://www.jpgmag.com/people/Magill), a professional photojournalist and a photogrpaher here, always gets such lovely animal shots when he does, so I was prepared for animals shots. Just, not for THESE animal shots.

Jake and I already do animal rescue, so seeing animals lined up for the slaughter house always makes us a bit heavy hearted. We save dogs, cats, livestock, and horses, but by the time we get to our rescues, we are always in time to save them.

Not THIS time. While Jake and I are vegetarians, we DO embrace that people eat meat, and understand this completely. But when we saw in these pigs the most intelligent gaze from human-like eyes, we knew, yet again, that our personal decision NOT to consume them was a good one, spiritually speaking, for US. So, this shoot was VERY hard for me. I adore animals, probably, more than people. Animals are inherently loving, without wanting a thing in return.

These photos are my effort to honor the mighty pig, and to honor ALL animals headed to slaughter worldwide. Here, I ask the pigs to know that I say, "I honor your life. I honor your lot as food. I KNOW you were here, and now, others will, too."

Seeing a need for more resuce than we can do, we are branching into our neighborhood, here in the gorgeous Oklahoma countryside, trying to find neighbors to join us in giving certain special animals, destined to slaughter, a forever home in their pastures.

We call oursevles Rancho San Patricio Private Animal Rescue. We are self-funded, and we only ask for people who can likewise afford to help, to take an animal faced with death, and give him a home.

This is our own neighbrhood animal rescue effort, at its very basic and grass roots level. This photo and the others in this group should clearly show WHY we do this. If not, I am a poor photographer, afterall, and these images are worthless.

God Speed to the pigs. Here they are, on their last day on earth. I hope i do them justice.