u/ohsweetsayonara

Earlier this year, I volunteered to rescue two pigs from a Montessori that a friend of mine worked at. Didn't think much of it at first, but as the date of rescue approached, my friend became tense, saying weird things like "I hope it doesn't rain, that will ruin the pick-up", oh why? We still rescue in the rain? "Well because I don't want your rescue vehicles making muddy marks in the grass"..?? Really weird, out of touch comments, that had nothing to do with the well-being of the animals or the situation at hand.

The day of rescue, she was SO odd, the owners of the Montessori were conveniently "out of state" with the older kids. The conditions of the barn were horrible. One of the pigs was limping, getting stuck in the mud, no grass anywhere, no hay to bed in, gaping holes all over the barn, and a 3'x6' sleeping area...which meant they had to sleep on top of one another. That's how I came upon them, sleeping, one on top of the other. I called their names and they came running (limping). Why are you getting rid of these pigs? "They just lay there all day and don't interact with the kids" (such a DISGUSTING thing to say, especially when you are actively using the pigs to recruit animal loving children/parents to attend this school).

By the way it's $20K per kid to attend this school. Why does your barn look dilapidated? (Oh p.s. they started a GOFUNDME to repair the barn after the pigs are removed) (P.p.s.s the owners took out $350K loan on the property right after the pigs were removed, so they clearly have enough funds to make it nice for the animals, but are actively choosing not to).

The pigs seemed starved for attention. There were feces all over the pen, no dishes for them to eat out of, they just threw the food into the pen/excrement. The mud was 6" deep the entire pen, loaded with mosquitos. We load the pigs quickly and get them down to the vet. This is the same vet the nonprofit uses for each case. While the pigs are getting looked at, my friend is frantically texting me "I hope you didn't think too bad of the school, we have NO idea how to care for pigs". They've had the pigs for three years.

I didn't say much to her UNTIL the vet tells the nonprofit, the limping pig has TWO broken knees and ONE broken elbow. The only solution is to euthanize her. The vet is requiring a necropsy to determine the cause of the injuries. So I calmly explain to my friend that her cult of a school has hurt these pigs, mistreated them, and to prepare for the worst. We stop talking.

Fast forward, I call the cops. The nonprofit I volunteered for wants no part of what is to come, the "friend" at this school coerced and manipulated the nonprofit to keep quiet about this situation, even though the nonprofit fundraises through awareness via social media. The cops do some "investigating". I furnish them with the euthanasia receipt, photos showing the disgusting pens (from many different seasons, all filled with feces), the video of the now-dead pig struggling in the mud (her injuries were a year and a half old), and there's NOTHING the cops can do?! My word against theirs despite all the evidence?

How can I press charges? I am ready to throw down. Do I ask for a different cop to investigate? I feel like I'm handing this case on a silver platter and they're ignoring it. I also emailed the county, the mayor, and the police chief who all cringed at the photos and videos.

Thanks for taking the time to read.