Saturday, January 5, 2013

That's some pig!


From the Times Ledger:

Nadine Darsanlal’s life was never the same after she teamed up with her service dog Harvey three years ago, and now she is trying to help others discover the therapeutic power of animals by training her second pet — a clever micro pig named Wilbur.

Darsanlal found Harvey after serving in the U.S. Navy from 1997-2001. After she got out she contracted an illness that left her partially disabled, she said. The College Point resident had trouble bending down to pick objects off the ground and getting out of bed in the morning due to chronic pain, but found relief after her application for a service dog was accepted by an organization called Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans, which partnered her with the pooch. Harvey picks up objects, turns on lights, puts on shoes and generally lifts up her spirits.

About a year and a half ago, Darsanlal decided to purchase a pig as a playmate for Harvey, she said. When the tiny porker arrived at their home, he became fast friends with his canine co-habitant and had a great personality. That is when she decided to train Wilbur to become a therapy pet, using her knowledge of training Harvey.

The sow can shake hands, sit and perform all manner of tricks. If the word “apple juice” is spoken, even from 20 yards away, it will come running.

Darsanlal has taken the duo to area schools, including the Renaissance Charter School in Jackson Heights. The principal there declared Harvey and Wilbur well-behaved and “a delight” for both students and teachers.

But it might be difficult for Wilbur to be recognized as a therapy animal in New York City.

13 comments:

FluShing Rezident said...

Great story!

The addition of pigs to Queens really raises the caliber of the borough! LOL!

Maybe those jackasses in White Trash Heaven (aka Clearview Gardens) will reconsider and let their resident keep her pig.

Anonymous said...

Toby's really got to go on a diet.

Anonymous said...

Toby - yes, but wait, where's the Claire Schulman-Semminerio-Stabile-Comrey-comments?

Anonymous said...

Yep...Clearview Gardens trash...Long Island trailer trash without wheels.

That place has really gone down hill.

Jerry Rotondi said...

Oink, oink!

That's one way to put the pork back into Albany legislation.

I suspect that this pig has a higher IQ than most upstate politicians.

Anonymous said...

That porker is far handsomer than Toby or Claire.

You asked for Comrey comments, so here it is.
That's Comrey's concubine!

Anonymous said...

Awesome!

Jon Torodash said...

The comments in here are completely out of hand. Why are you insulting that sweet, sociable, porcine disability assistant by association with Queens and NYS politicians? Wilbur is owed an apology.

Anonymous said...

Pigs...pork...you risk offending certain religious groups.

Anonymous said...

Wait a minute: is this a service animal or a therapy animal? There seems to be a lot of confusion (and abuse) of the standing of these two different roles...

Anonymous said...

I dunno...
put a little lipstick on, and I might consider taking in a movie and dinner with that nice little pig.

rosie said...

Clearview gardens isn't evicting the pig! It's NYC department of health! They claim all pigs are farm animals / livestock.... Uneducated assholes is all they really are! The mayors daughter even has a pig! How bout that! Her pig spent thanksgiving in Gracie mansion too! Pigs are illegal in NYC... That doesn't sound "Kosher"!

Anonymous said...

Pig-eons are scavengers, too.