Animal Rescue Groups Find Homes for Rescued Pigs

Category: Human Interest

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. malnourished / mælˈnɚrɪʃt / (adj) – being in poor health because of lack of food
    Example:

    A lot of poor children are malnourished.


  2. roam / roʊm / (v) – to go to several places without a specific direction or purpose
    Example:

    Homeless animals roam the streets.


  3. seize / siːz / (v) – to capture
    Example:

    The authorities seized the pigs roaming freely in the streets.


  4. unruly / ˌʌnˈruːli / (adj) – hard to manage or control
    Example:

    Volunteers will train unruly dogs.


  5. sanctuary / ˈsæŋktʃəˌweri / (n) – a place that keeps animals from danger
    Example:

    The government has set up a sanctuary for homeless animals.


Article

Read the text below.

Animal rescue groups are working to put rescued pigs up for adoption.


In early 2016, a woman from Kentucky, United States, rescued pot-bellied pigs and raised them in her own farm. Due to the farm’s inadequate space, the male pigs could not be separated from the female pigs, leading to the animals’ rapid breeding. With this, the number of pigs on the farm grew to 458.


These pigs, which were mostly malnourished, eventually became problematic as they wandered outside the farm and even damaged nearby properties. Under Kentucky law, letting domestic and wild pigs roam freely is illegal. Because of this, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) seized the unruly animals.


The KDFWR sought the help of Atti’s Acres, a local pig sanctuary in Kentucky. Atti’s Acres immediately assembled a team of nonprofit organizations and volunteers to gather funds in preparation for the pigs’ adoption.


Initially, the KDFWR gave the volunteers until September to place the pigs for adoption. Failure to find a new home for the pigs would subject these animals to euthanasia or the act of putting animals to death. However, the department decided to extend the deadline granted that there is constant development with the adoption process.


Each adoption application will be thoroughly examined to make sure that the animals will not be taken by breeders or people who slaughter animals. Cotton Branch Farm Animal Sanctuary, one of the organizations involved in the rescue efforts, expressed its confidence about the initiative’s progress. The organization also emphasized that the adoption applications were well-thought-of to guarantee the animals’ safety.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

• If given the chance, would you participate in helping the pigs find a home? Why or why not?
• What do you think can be done to speed up the adoption process for the pigs? Discuss.

Discussion B

• What do you think is the importance of animal adoption? Share your ideas.
• If you were to adopt an animal, what would it be and why?