DOWAGIAC — Daisy, Elliot, Snooki and 30 other potbellied pigs with unique names and personalities, including Kevin Bacon, ran around a fenced in pasture known as Smiggi’s Safe Haven and Sanctuary, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping rescued pigs live out their lives.

Christy Guipe started helping out at a rescue that has since moved to Kentucky in order to first learn about rescuing pics. She eventually rescued her first pig, Smiggi, when living in South Bend. At the time, Guipe did not know pigs were considered exotic animals and were not allowed on lots within city limits.

The family moved to Dowagiac and started their sanctuary in 2016. Smiggi, the pig who started it all, is now 8 years old. The rescue has taken in pigs from southern Indiana, but one pig, named Dixie, who came from Indianapolis, has traveled the farthest to the safe haven.

Currently, there is a sanctuary that is owned by one of Guipe’s friends that will be closing soon. Some pigs will be coming from Kentucky to join the sanctuary’s herd.

“We don’t adopt out,” Guipe said. “We are a sanctuary. It is really bad for pigs to go from home to home to home. It affects their behavior in negative ways.”

The sanctuary, which used to be self-funded on Guipe’s husband’s income, accepts donations and recently received a large donation from Resale to Rescue in Mishawaka. Resale to Rescue sells higher end items and donates  money to area rescues. The sanctuary was able to receive a grant and also helped the not for profit resale store rescue a pig that was dumped in an affluent neighborhood in South Bend.

Guipe said most pigs are rescued because owners are convinced by breeders the pigs will stay 25 pounds forever. Teacup pigs are typically baby pigs under a week old, she said.

“They grow,” Guipe said. “People get them. They get too big. When pigs get bored, they are destructive in people’s homes. They just can’t handle them.”

The safe haven recently rescued a pig named Kevin Bacon from a home in Granger. Guipe said he was depressed, despite having his own area.

Guipe said Kevin Bacon’s family still continues to help and frequently comes to visit. Another pig, Rocky, also receives visits from his previous owner, who is a board member at Resale to the Rescue. Rocky recognizes his owner when she shows up, but unfortunately, not every owner who gives their pig to the sanctuary follows through on their commitments to visit and donate, Guipe said. As Guipe called Rocky, the small pig’s head bolted up.

The names of each of the 33 pigs are just as unique as each pig’s distinctive personality, Guipe said. Right now, the pigs are harder to tell apart since they have lost all their fur in the summer.

“Some are a lot more personable than others are,” she said. “Some still think they are lap pigs. If you sit down, they want to sit on your lap at 200 pounds.”

Another pig Guipe pointed out was Lucy, who they rescued with the help of South Bend Animal Care and Control. Guipe described Lucy as a huge lover, but while living with somebody in the city, she was rescued from a crate, covered in her own feces. Guipe said when people no longer can take care of their pigs, they often will lock them up.

Another pig, named Loki, was picked up twice by the Mishawaka Humane Society in a Wendy’s parking lot. The family who had owned Loki had dogs that had not gotten along with the pig, since pigs have the tendency to be aggressive, Guipe said.

In a few days, Elliot, another rescue pig, will be welcomed to the sanctuary and ultimately introduced to the herd, which is a process, Guipe said.

“They are fussy,” Guipe said. “They herd. There is a hierarchy. Anytime you introduce a new pig to the herd, there is fighting.”

Even after having raised pigs for a few years, saying goodbye to them never gets easier, Guipe said.

Last year, a pig, named Sugar, was taken to the Purdue Animal Hospital. Guipe was unable to be with Sugar in her final moments because of an emergency surgery.

“No, it doesn’t get easier,” Guipe said. “They are our family members.”

To keep up with the more expensive vet bills, a group, called Mo Money for Pigs, helps out the sanctuary. Currently, a pig has a broken humerus and is in the medical kennel until she is healed.

In order to get the community more involved in the sanctuary, Guipe is allowing people to sponsor a pig. As a sponsor, people will receive a Christmas ornament of either a hoof or snout print and picture of the pig with their background story and regular updates.

Recently, a TikTok video was made of the organization rescuing a pig, named Elliot, in South Bend. The video helped get the group’s name out and recently, it received help from volunteers and donations of produce to the sanctuary.

“We are a smaller rescue,” Guipe said. “There are rescues out there that have 100s of pigs. But they also get a lot more in donations. Whereas we spend over a $1,000 a month on feed for the animals.”

Even now with a large number of pigs, Guipe still has to turn down rescuing some pigs because of a lack of space and funds. The organization hopes it can continue to get grants through Resale to Rescue to be able to double the pasture area.

Overall, Guipe wants people to realize how emotional and smart pigs are as animals. The sanctuary usually receives pigs after they turn about one year old and start getting bigger, but the animals can live to be 20 years old. Being committed as their owners is required, Guipe said.

“It’s really hard on them,” Guipe said. “Pigs are more emotional, and they are far smarter than even dogs. They cry. When we get a new fat baby, we constantly love them and reassure them that’s it OK, that they’re safe and this is home now. We reassure them they are not going to have to go anywhere. This is your life. You’re not going to have to leave, and we will love you.”