Teacup Pigs

“I moved out on my own and wasn’t able to take the dog, and I missed her snorting and snores,” she says. After a quick search online, she came across a boutique breeder in Oregon who advertised “miniature teacup” and “extreme micro” pigs for sale. “I had my pick of the litter,” she says. “They basically send headshots of each piglet, and Bacon was shipped to me in August 2008.”

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/they-bought-trendy-teacup-pigs-now-they-ve-got-enormous-hogs

Hah! I saw that article too. They buy "teacup pigs" and end up with a 300lb potbelly pig as a pet.

I would personally prefer a dog for a pet and a pig for the freezer... but to each their own :)

Pigs are very bright, so I can imagine they can be good pets. However, they're just as dangerous as large dogs, whose danger is frequently underestimated. I read years ago that if one is careful not to let them eat as much as they want, they will stay smaller, but I know far too many dog owners who can't manage their dog's weight, so it takes the right person - starving an animal is different from "a healthy diet".  (Except when it's Khyber and I'm babysitting and he won't eat at all... sigh... it was generally only for a few days so he wasn't going to starve to death or anything!)