As humans, we all have that one person that means the world to us. We call them when we’re sad, or not feeling well. We lean on them when we’re having a hard time standing up on our own. And when we’re having a great day, they’re the first person we want to share that with. It may surprise you to find out that humans aren’t the only ones who can create and maintain powerful bonds. Keep reading to find out how these pig brothers couldn’t live without each other.These two pigs were rescued from a pig farm by The Gentle Barn when they were only a few months old. When The Gentle Barn took them in, the pigs were infected with parasites and their bones were showing from starvation. But no matter what they were going through, Horton and Henry had each other.
“We sat with them every day for weeks to comfort them,” said Ellie Laks, the founder of The Gentle Barn. After a little adjusting and lots of snacks, the brothers began warming up to their human caretakers.
“We read books to them and sang them songs. It was as if their eyes went from dull to bright. After a few weeks, they started rolling over to let us rub their bellies,” said Laks. Even though the brothers had new friends, they were still inseparable.
They were finally allowed to play out in the sun, but of course, they were always together. Wherever Harry went, Horton wasn’t too far behind.
He was having trouble walking and his caretakers realized that because of his unnatural size, his legs couldn’t carry his weight. “They both grew very, very quickly. But Horton’s size coupled with his bad conformation turned into mobility issues,” said Laks.
Horton is feeling a lot better now but needs to stay on bed-rest in his barn. But thanks to his brother, Horton is definitely not missing out on any food!
“When we bring out hay for them to eat at lunch time, Henry will grab a mouthful and bring it right into the barn for Horton. He is very nurturing to him — to the point where he won’t let any other pigs near him. He knows that Horton is delicate and vulnerable,” said Laks.
Pigs are highly emotional animals that are capable of creating strong bonds. “If Horton makes a peep, Henry is right back there to check on him. He’ll check back in throughout the day, too, just to make sure he’s doing OK,” Laks said. Henry is such a loving brother, and we’re sure that Horton is eternally grateful for him!
Henry is such a good brother to Horton! It’s amazing how he makes sure that Horton doesn’t go hungry.