It might surprise you to realise that pigs are becoming very popular pets. The most recent addition to the pet craze is the miniature pig, a teeny, tiny bundle of peachy skin and fluff that weighs no more than 9oz at birth and is no bigger than a teacup. When fully grown they stand at no taller than 14 inches. They’re said to be like any household pet and are relatively low maintenance. However, not only are they in extremely high demand, but they cost anywhere between £200 – £700.

That doesn’t mean you can’t get a piggy of your own, of course, but there are a few things to consider before you decide to commit:

1. What do you want a pig for? If you just think it’s a little bit of a novelty and that you will eventually get bored of it, just don’t do it. Like any other pet, they need love, care and attention and it isn’t fair on the animal if you’re not willing to provide it with everything it needs for the rest of its life. On the other hand, you might want to eventually eat Little Piggy, which is entirely up to you, just don’t tell the children about it.

2. Do you have the space for a pig? They can grow to quite substantial sizes and much like large dogs, they need a lot of space to move around. Ideally, they will need a pen to keep them safe. They like to cause a bit of havoc digging things up, so don’t expect your trimmed garden to stay neat and tidy for very long!

3. Where are you getting your pig from? Always use a trusted breeder because that way you can guarantee the health and quality of the animal. If you plan on breeding them yourself, ensure you see proof of pedigree documents before making any purchases.

4. Can you afford it? Not only will you have to buy the pig first, but then you have to consider the fencing you need to put up, the food it needs, the shelter and any vets bills you might incur. Just like dogs and cat, pigs can suffer from any manner of illnesses, and you need to be prepared for unexpected costs.

You probably have a couple of animals in mind when we say ‘heroic pets’ to you. Lassie, Skippy, Black Beauty and maybe even White Fang if you’re from that generation. They’re all animals with an uncanny ability to communicate with humans, thus able to let ‘Old Man Tom’ know when some hapless child has fallen to the bottom of his structurally unsafe well again.

Well, we doubt that the animal actors behind the heroes could really save any lives, but there are a few plucky pets out there who really deserve the praise for showing limitless bravery in the face of adversity. Take Trackr for instance, the German Shepherd responsible for finding the last survivor of the tragic events of 9/11.  He was so successful during his time as a rescue dog that he was even cloned not once, not twice, not three times, but a staggering four times.

Then there is the miraculous story of a dog that appeared from nowhere to save the life of a man risking being gorged to death by a bull in Spain! The man in question had just about given up on his life when the pup raced onto the scene and launched itself at the bull to free its victim and even continued to attack even after the man had scrambled free. Thanks to the dog, the man escaped relatively unharmed.

It’s not just dogs that are capable of  being heroic, either! Winnie the cat is responsible for saving the life of her family when a gasoline powered water pump was leaking an odourless gas into the house. Their 14 year old son lay unconscious next door while Winnie pawed, nudged and wailed at her owners to wake them up. If it hadn’t been for Winnie sensing something was wrong, they would never have survived.

One of the most heart-warming stories of an heroic pet is all about Lulu, a pot-bellied pig that tried desperately to raise the alarm when her owner’s mother was taking care of her and suffered a massive heart attack. Not-so-little Lulu ran into the street and spread herself out in the middle of the road to stop oncoming traffic, returning to the house every so often to check on JoAnn until she finally got someone’s attention. They followed Lulu to the door and discovered JoAnn unconscious. If it hadn’t been for her, JoAnn would surely have died.

It just goes to show how invaluable our animals really are. They’re more than just our companions, they’re our friends and in some instances, our rescuers!