Remembering Olive the Pig

Just shy of her 15th birthday, our beautiful, regal, sun-loving, big-eared, old lady Olive has left us.

Olive came to Woodstock Farm Sanctuary in 2011 after being spotted running along Route 28, not far from our old location just outside Woodstock, NY. She was reported to the police and SPCA, who called us to help. It turns out that someone had taken in Olive because she was the runt of a litter, but she liked to escape this person’s place often and they could not keep her safely contained. We were happy to offer her a permanent place at Woodstock Sanctuary and she became a true fixture of the Sanctuary and an advocate for pigs everywhere.

Olive greeting visitors during a Public Education tour

Olive taking a nap inside the barn

Olive and her best friend, Stanley, spooning

For many humans, Olive was the first pig they ever met, the biggest pig they ever met, and, in her later years, the oldest pig they’d ever met. Pigs don’t reach Olive’s age within pig farming — instead, they are slaughtered at around 5-6 months unless they are being used for breeding, in which case they live a few brief and unpleasant years. Olive helped teach people how pigs can live and deserve to live — and she lived it up while she was with us.

Olive enjoying a sun nap outside with her best friend, Stanley

Olive was talkative, adventurous, and good at giving a side eye to everyone. She received lots and lots of love and LOTS of treats from all of us during her years here, right up until the end. She leaves behind her longtime friend and companion, Stanley, who was next to her in almost every nap photo in her barn. Please send Stanley love as he navigates losing his best friend, and keep sharing Olive’s story so her legacy continues.

Rest in power, sweet Olive.