Life with Pigs

Life with Pigs Farm Animal Sanctuary is a nonprofit sanctuary in Williamsburg, VA. Donate now to help us save animals and change hearts and minds! Link below.

[Life with Pigs @LifewithPigs]

Happy Birthday to my best friend Jenna! Can’t believe you are 4!!! So glad you escaped the dairy industry and let me learn to be a cow parent with you!

[Life with Pigs @LifewithPigs]

Her name is Jenna and she approves this message.

[Life with Pigs @LifewithPigs]

I know Mallory has always felt like ‘the other woman’ to my Jenna. But, I’m not sure how I feel about how Mallory looks at Jareth… sure he’s handsome. And has majestic feathers and that beautiful floppy comb. Oh wait… I get it.

[Life with Pigs @LifewithPigs]

We half way! And as a wise man once said, it’s not child labor if you call it chores 😉 Just kidding Gwen!

#lifewithpigsbaby2026 #wearehavingananu #lifewithpigs

[Life with Pigs @LifewithPigs]

Usually I sing to Jenna, but Maisie is a great listener too. Here is a little of ‘Save Your Love’ by Great White. Watch Maisie’s big beautiful ears! And those eyeliner eyes ♥️

[Life with Pigs @LifewithPigs]

Over the last week, so many of you stepped up to help us keep everyone comfortable through the brutal heat, and we just wanted to say thank you.

Because of your kindness, we’ve been able to keep fans running, provide cool treats, keep the air conditioning going where it’s needed most, and make sure everyone has a little extra comfort during these incredibly hot days. It has made such a difference, and we’re so grateful to each and every one of you.

The good news is that, thanks to all of that support, everyone has been doing well despite the extreme temperatures.

Today, though, we had to take Fiona to the veterinarian.

She’s continued to have very little interest in eating, and while she’s had good days and bad days before, this time feels different. We’re trying a few things that we’re hopeful will help bring back some of her spark, but if we’re being honest, we’re both really worried about her. So please Fiona in your thoughts.

One of the things that has been on our hearts a lot lately is our daughter, Gwen, who will be here in November. We find ourselves thinking about all of the animals she’ll never get to know. She’ll never feel Odin lean against her for cuddles, or meet Charlie the most huggable turkey, or so many of the beautiful souls who helped build this sanctuary into the place it is today. They won’t be here to welcome her into the world, and that breaks our hearts.

At the same time, we know she’ll grow up surrounded by the love they left behind. Their stories will become her stories. She may never meet so many of them, but she’ll grow up knowing who they were and why they mattered. Their love changed us, and because it changed us, it will help shape the little girl we’re so excited to meet.

And thank you, from all of us, human and animal alike, for helping us keep everyone safe, cool, and cared for through this heat wave. Your kindness doesn’t just provide comfort during difficult days like these, it gives us hope, even when our hearts are heavy. We truly couldn’t do this without you.

[Life with Pigs @LifewithPigs]

Save all your love, save your love for me!

In one of first weeks back doing a new Tunetastic Tuesday after my fall off the roof, Jenna and I decided to do the Great White classic Save Your Love.

If you were worried, does Jenna still have it? Will she still be just as adorable? Fear not, Jenna brings her A game!

#greatwhitetheband #jennathecalfwholived #tunetastictuesday #saveyourlove

[Life with Pigs @LifewithPigs]

You cannot have a bad day while Huckleberry is near. Even on the worst of days (and we’ve had a few of those this year) it’s impossible to see him bouncing towards you and not smile. Huck is pure joy and love.

[Life with Pigs @LifewithPigs]

Seeing who likes some cool lettuce on this super hot day. Jenna, Maisie, and Huckleberry are our taste testers.

[Life with Pigs @LifewithPigs]

“Stay away from my wife!” - Miles (and Stacy, his beloved)

[Life with Pigs @LifewithPigs]

‘But it works outside!!! Why won’t the floor and water make mud? ‘

Charlotte is so confused….

[Life with Pigs @LifewithPigs]

Happy 4th of July

Four years ago for the 4th, I sang Jenna Bruce Springsteen’s classic Born in the USA. And she was just so darn cute that I don’t think I can top this for a 4th of July song!

And good news, our AC is back up and running!!

[Life with Pigs @LifewithPigs]

Well… this wasn’t on today’s to-do list.

Sometime overnight, the air conditioner in the house decided it had enough. So while we’re trying to keep all our sanctuary animals cool outside during one of the hottest stretches of the summer, we’re now also trying to figure out how to keep everyone cool inside.

The pigs are not impressed. Fiona is giving us her best “please fix this” face. And poor pregnant Mallory is definitely wondering why the house picked this week to stop cooperating.

With temperatures expected to reach or feel close to 110° today, every fan, every air conditioner, every frozen treat, and every bag of ice we have is working overtime. The air conditioners in the barns have been running around the clock to keep our elderly, medically fragile, and heat-sensitive residents safe. The electric bill climbs with every degree the temperature rises, but keeping everyone cool isn’t optional.

Now, on top of all of that, we’re trying to repair the AC in the house before it becomes unbearable inside too. It just seems like this heat wave keeps finding new ways to challenge us.

If you’d like to help us get through this stretch, we’d be so incredibly grateful. Donations help us cover unexpected repairs like this, the cost of running the air conditioners and fans for the animals, and all the extra frozen fruits, vegetables, ice, and cooling treats that help everyone stay comfortable during these dangerous temperatures.

Every donation, no matter the size, helps us care for the family members outside in the barns… and apparently the overheated family members inside the house too.

Thank you for always being there for us and for them. We truly couldn’t do this without you. ❤️

Support Our Sanctuary at https://t.co/V8GflZKOP3

[Life with Pigs @LifewithPigs]

Extreme heat warnings have been issued, with temperatures expected to climb into the 100s over the next several days.

These are the days we worry about most.

Our rescued animals each handle the heat differently. Some spend the day lounging in the shade, while our older residents and those with advanced years need much closer monitoring. We make constant rounds to be sure everyone has fresh water, plenty of shade, and every opportunity to stay as cool as possible.

That means fans running around the clock, air conditioners working nonstop in our bird barns and other areas where they’re needed most, misters, fresh pools, and countless frozen treats to help everyone stay hydrated and comfortable.

The animals absolutely love cooling off with frozen watermelon, strawberries, blueberries, peas, and giant ice treats. Watching them enjoy those moments makes all the extra effort worthwhile.

But heat waves like this come with a very real cost.

Running multiple air conditioners and fans 24 hours a day causes our electric bill to climb quickly, and keeping of pounds of fruit, ice, and cooling supplies on hand adds up fast. We never hesitate because keeping everyone safe and comfortable is what matters most, but it is one of the biggest financial challenges we face each summer.

If you’d like to help us get everyone through this stretch of dangerous heat, we’d be incredibly grateful. Whether it’s helping cover the cost of electricity or sending frozen fruit, watermelons, or other cooling treats, every gift directly helps keep our family safe.

Thank you for always helping us care for these amazing animals. Your kindness truly helps them weather even the hottest days. ❤️

Support Our Sanctuary at https://t.co/V8GflZKOP3

[Life with Pigs @LifewithPigs]

My son Christian could often be found napping with the pigs. And even though he’s all grown up, as the big brother to Gwen (currently in her 19th week in Mallory’s belly), he will have to teach her the art of pig cuddles ♥️

This is a happy memory here on Throwback Thursday

[Life with Pigs @LifewithPigs]

Jenna’s always there to help out… like when bananas start getting too soft. She’s willing to take one for the team and eat a whole bunch of them. Such a helpful cow, that one.

[Life with Pigs @LifewithPigs]

Classic Huckleberry! He gets so excited to see his big sister Rousseau home from college. And for some reason he can’t help but headbutt and chase to show his excitement. He’s one crazy little lamb.

[Life with Pigs @LifewithPigs]

The joys of the end of the day, loving on Maisie the cow and Edna the goat ♥️

[Life with Pigs @LifewithPigs]

It’s really hard to put into words just how truly grateful we are to have such an amazing group of people standing beside us.

These past few months have been some of the hardest we’ve ever faced. We’ve said goodbye to beloved members of our family, including Odin and Charlie. We’ve continued carrying the enormous financial responsibility that comes with running a sanctuary. And through it all, Mallory has been navigating the physical and emotional challenges of pregnancy.

There have been days when it felt like the weight of everything might simply be too much.

Then so many of you stepped in.

When we shared that we needed help, you reminded us that we aren’t carrying this alone. Every donation, every kind message, every share, and every word of encouragement helped lift a little of that weight from our shoulders. It gave us the hope and strength to keep moving forward... for ourselves, and even more importantly, for the animals who depend on us every single day.

Because of your incredible generosity, we’ve raised nearly half of the $24,000 we need to pay off the credit card debt that has accumulated over the last several months of medical bills, feed, supplies, and daily sanctuary expenses.

We still have a long way to go, but thanks to all of you, that mountain doesn’t feel quite as impossible as it did before.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for believing in this sanctuary, believing in our animals, and believing in us when we needed it most. We will never be able to fully express what your kindness means to our little family.

If you’re able to continue helping us close the remaining gap, we’d be deeply grateful. And if all you can do is share our story, please know that helps more than you may ever realize.

Support Our Sanctuary at https://t.co/V8GflZKOP3

Thank you for helping us keep creating these happily ever afters!!

[Life with Pigs @LifewithPigs]

Fiona was back at the vet today. On top of just losing her brother Odin, she has been struggling with some liver/gall bladder issues. What’s strange is that her blood work looks improved and doesn’t fully match her symptoms anymore. So we are treating what we know and also looking for some mystery issue. The poor girl is very very sleepy and so is her mom, so they are napping together a lot these days :)

[Life with Pigs @LifewithPigs]

The last few days have reminded us of something we’ll never take for granted: how incredible this community is.

When we shared that we were drowning under medical bills, daily care costs, and the expense of building a safe place for the animals, so many of you stepped in. Every donation, every share, every kind message reminded us that we aren’t carrying this alone. We can’t stress enough how much that helps us push through these difficult times.

Because of your generosity, we’ve raised nearly $8,000.

That number is overwhelming to us. This helps is start to catch up so many medical bills and feed costs. We are so grateful we can stress a little less about medication costs as our animal family ages. It definitely gives us breathing room when it felt like we had none.

From the bottom of our hearts…thank you.
At the same time, we also want to be honest about where we still are. Even after this incredible outpouring of support, we’re still about $16,000 short of covering the expenses we’re facing.
Running a sanctuary means the needs don’t stop because a fundraiser ends. The animals still need to eat tomorrow. Medical emergencies still happen. Construction has to continue so everyone has safe and comfortae shelter. Every day brings another cost and so catching up is so important.
If you’ve already given, please know you’ve made a real difference. We don’t want anyone to feel pressured to give more than they’re able. Simply cheering us on, sharing our posts, and believing in what we’re doing helps more than you know.
If you’ve been thinking about donating but haven’t had the chance yet, your gift whether $5 or $500 helps move us closer to stability.
We know these are hard times for so many people, and the fact that anyone chooses to help our little rescue animal family here is something we’ll never stop being grateful for. Happily Ever Afters are only possible because of your love.

Thank you for standing beside us, for believing every life matters, and for helping us give the animals we call family and that call here home the best lives possible!

With gratitude and love,
Ryan, Mallory, Gwen (coming Nov 2026), and everyone at Life With Pigs Farm Animal Sanctuary ❤️

Support Our Sanctuary at https://t.co/V8GflZKOP3