The power of millions of “fans” has helped the world’s most famous pig – named Esther – to be treated and overcome the deadly breast cancer.
Esther is now the world’s most famous pet pig with over 1.4 million fans on Facebook and has just won the 2018 World’s Most Influential Animal category at PETA’s annual Libby Awards.
Esther lives with a gay couple in Toronto, Canada, and is very pampered. This 300 kg pig especially loves to eat cakes and pastries.
Esther with her two “fathers” Jenkins and Walter. Photo: Facebook Esther The Wonder Pig
Esther is especially fond of cupcakes – Photo: Facebook Esther The Wonder Pig
However, in the summer of 2018, Esther made her fans extremely worried when she was diagnosed with breast cancer that threatened her life. Esther’s two “fathers”, Steve Jenkins and Derek Walter, did not expect that the journey to take their pet pig to veterinary clinics for treatment would be extremely difficult and difficult.
Discrimination
When Steve Jenkins and Derek Walter began noticing Esther moving in unusual ways, they thought their pet pig might be having a heart attack or musculoskeletal problem. Based on a preliminary diagnosis, the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) said a CT (computed tomography) scan would be needed to determine exactly what was wrong with Esther.
Esther’s two “fathers” began to notice problems with Esther’s health in early summer 2018. Photo: Esther The Wonder Pig
But given Esther’s size and weight, no veterinary clinic in Canada had equipment large enough to scan her. The only equipment large enough to scan Esther, Jenkins and Walter knew, was in the United States.
That’s when the discrimination between Esther and other pets like dogs and cats became apparent. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Esther was considered a meat animal, not a pet. Therefore, the regulations on pig quarantine made it very difficult to bring Esther across the border.
“They wanted to put Esther in a government quarantine facility, but we didn’t want that, especially since Esther was sick,” Jenkins explained.
The “fans” get involved
Jenkins and Walter were surprised to find that there was a lack of medical equipment needed to care for large animals like Esther. Faced with the difficulties of getting Esther across the border, Esther’s two “fathers” boldly promised OVC that they would find a way to bring a large CT scanner to Canada.
That’s when Esther’s fans stepped in. After Jenkins and Walter launched an online fundraising campaign with a goal of raising $651,000 by July 1, 2018, to purchase a large CT scanner for installation in early August, Esther’s fans pitched in and by June 20, the total had reached $603,000.
“Instead of trying to get Esther across the border, it would be easier to raise funds to buy the CT scanner and bring it back to Canada,” Jenkins told Mother Nature Network (MNN).
Soon, they achieved their goal of purchasing the machine and installing it. That’s when doctors diagnosed Esther with breast cancer. But once again, Esther’s life was threatened by bureaucratic regulations. “Because Esther is considered a meat animal, there is a whole list of medications and treatments that Esther is not allowed to access, including chemotherapy,” Jenkins said.
Esther made history as the largest animal ever to undergo a CT scan in Canada. Photo: Facebook Esther The Wonder Pig
Like other “non-traditional” pets such as cows, chickens and llamas, Esther is at risk of dying not from a serious medical condition but from a series of veterinary procedures and treatments.
Small evidence for a big problem
During his time treating Esther, Jenkins heard from many people who had lost their pets because they were prevented from accessing therapy and medication. “Diagnosing them is hard enough. Finding a clinic or hospital to treat them is harder, and getting veterinary medications to treat them is even harder,” he said.
The pig is still resilient and strong despite undergoing cancer treatment. Photo: Facebook Esther The Wonder Pig
There was a case where a kind veterinarian had to prescribe a woman’s pet chicken to be a parrot in order to be allowed to use life-saving medicine.
Luckily for Esther, her cancer did not reach the stage where chemotherapy was needed. The cancerous tumors were surgically removed from Esther’s chest and she was declared cancer-free.
Esther no longer needs the CT scanner, but Jenkins and Walter want to continue using it for other animals. Since October 2018, the “Esther Scanner” has been at their Happily Ever Esther Farm Sanctuary in Ontario for use on any large animal that needs a CT scan.
The reluctant “hero”
During her treatment, Esther had no idea that she had become a “hero” to many other animals and their owners. Fierce debates have arisen over the discrimination between pigs, cows, chickens… raised as pets and other traditional pets such as dogs or cats.
Jenkins’ efforts, Walter’s, and Esther’s strong fight against illness inspired and paved the way for other non-traditional pets to seek medical treatment despite discrimination and unreasonable regulations.
The support of fans and the love of her two owners helped Esther overcome her illness. Photo: Facebook Esther The Wonder Pig
Esther has recovered and can eat her favorite pasta again. Photo: Facebook Esther The Wonder Pig
“We got this CT scanner, which is great. It will make treating large animals much easier,” Jenkins said.
A portion of the remaining funds raised for the CT scanner (approximately $100,000) will be used to help non-traditional pets like Esther receive CT scans and treatment.
Although they are both pets and loved as family members, veterinary regulations discriminate against Esther the pig and her bedfellows. Photo: Facebook Esther The Wonder Pig
In their battle against cancer and red tape, Esther and her two fathers are not alone, but have the help of a large army of fans. Those who donated to buy a $650,000 CT scanner and brought it to Canada are an important part of this fight.
It is expected that there will be similar struggles for every pig, chicken, goat and cow that humans love and consider as family members. And it all started with this cake-loving pig.