Caldwell 
cruelty
seizure
survivors

July 2018

133 pigs seized in Lockhart, TX - Caldwell County

19 more born from pregnant pigs on site at CTPR

The Caldwell Cruelty Seizure is one of the galvanizing moments of CTPR. A story of both heartbreak and salvation, this seizure more than doubled our resident population in a single day. Since then, we’ve experienced so many changes, developments, friendships, sadness, and have been tested in every way. Consistent donors, events, and the love and devotion of the most extraordinary Animal Care Team are at the cornerstone of our successes, and at times, mere survival through the darkest days.

Animal control officers were called when a woman found a

French bulldog in critical condition upon the property. Upon investigating, they found that this two-time animal cruelty offender let his breeding operation get out of control. Nearly 300 animals were seized from his property, victims of starvation, exposure, untreated medical issues.

CTPR founder, Dan, had long been aware of the "business" run by this individual. On Craigslists, this breeder had two separate listings; one selling pigs as "micro" pigs, and then another selling those same pigs as meat pigs once they got older and too large for the ‘teacup ideal.’

Read more in the Austin American Statesman.

Most of the details of the case can be found in the Statesman article above, but our part in the story begins on July 27, 2018, when the first 24 pigs in critical need of support came home. Most were just a couple days old, a few were about a week old, and one special girl was Hannah...a pig who was clearly 9-12 months old by most of her physical indicators, but was so emaciated that she couldn’t stand on her own or hold her head up straight. We named little Hannah after Deputy Sheriff Hannah Garret, who led the charge in seizing the victims and bringing about some justice for these sweet souls. Little Bernadette, a small piglet, was also nearly unresponsive and fighting for her life, but with lots of love and syringe feeding, she finally made a turn for the better.

In that first couple of weeks, our hearts broke over and over again as we lost almost half of these tiny piglets. Born to malnourished mothers, these little ones did not get the nutrients they needed in utero, or colostrum once born, and their tiny frail bodies seemed unable to process the food and supplements that the others were using to grow and gain energy. It’s hard to imagine how many piglets just like them were discarded without any support or love our mourning for their passing.

On August 8, 2018, the next 109 pigs from the Caldwell seizure finally came home after spending those prior couple weeks in a holding pen at the Sheriffs office during the prosecution of the breeder. Dan has gone to the holding pen once they were seized to assist the sherif in separating the pigs by sex to avoid further litters. They were deathly skinny even with those weeks of consistent meals.

The day we brought home the rest of the Caldwell pigs was the first time we revealed this cruelty case with the world. We were asked to keep the information private while the investigation was going on. We were so relieved to have brought all the pigs to safety, but the hardest part of the journey was just beginning.

We quickly got all of the boys neutered, but with so few funds raised in the initial couple months, we were unable to move forward with spays, except on a case-by-case basis.

Three of the pigs from the seizure came to us pregnant - Ginger, Elaine, and Hattie. Before December, all three gave birth at CTPR, and though not all the piglets survived, those who did have never known a life without love. Read more about their stories below.

Congenital issues began to rear their ugly heads within certain individuals, and others began to show signs of chronic pneumonia. Over the next 6 months, we would treat critical illnesses in over 3 dozen pigs, and lose 18 of them despite seeking the best medical care, trying non traditional methods like hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and prayers for a chance at life.

We are so grateful to say that now, with so much sadness behind us, our beautiful Caldwell babes are some of the happiest, most joyous pigs we know. We can’t imagine life, and CTPR without them.

Learn more about some of the individuals of the Caldwell Cruelty Seizure below.