“Everybody looks at me weird because I’m a black man, in the hood, with a pig. I done had every animal before. This was just the next step. They’re just like dogs. You can potty train and teach them tricks. It’s something different. I’ve been having pigs for about three years. Most people think that they’re real hard-headed and stubborn and they do at times. They’re pretty smart.

I got a friend whose pig rings a bell when it wants to go outside. He does it all. He’s potty trained and goes in the litter box just like a dog or a cat. They’re very intelligent. They’re not dirty like everyone thinks they are. Everybody thinks that they’re just filthy and they’re not. They like to get dirty from time to time but they’re pretty clean. They’re good. It’s just a different experience. Read up on them and check it out. You might end up liking it.

Make sure you do your research. Some people are out here selling real live hog pigs, the big ones. Make sure you get a pot belly or a small one. I’m about to get my license, so I can start breeding them. Most of us don’t know much about or how to get them, so that’s a business that I’m thinking about starting. People can learn about pigs and eventually will want to raise one.” - Wiliam (pictured with his pig, Duke), Shawnee