When it comes to travel arrangements for your new mini pig, we try to be flexible. We really want to experience to be as stress-free and comfortable as possible for everyone involved, especially the new baby. If you are up for making a road trip, we will make arrangements to meet you part way. We have a limited window of time that we can be away from our own animal family. The distance we can travel is limited, but we know it helps.

We do offer air shipping with American airlines.  The piglets fly into the largest airport closest you.  American Airlines charges approximately $575.  We purchase an airline approved travel kennel for your piglet along with a vet visit and the required health certificate.  Total cost of flight travel is $650. The staff at American do an amazing job. The piglets always get a lot of extra attention from the minute we arrive at the airport for check in.

If your piglet is being shipped, we recommend that you take a few things with you to the airport.  Your piglet will be in a travel kennel with a blanket and potty pads.  Some piglets will potty on the trip.

Be prepared to extremely nervous and excited as you travel to the airport.  I have even found myself having second thoughts.  It’s perfectly normal and you and your piglet will get through this stressful time just fine!

Take a couple bottles of water, baby wipes, a towel or blanket, and you may want to take a second small kennel with you.  Wait until you are in your car with the doors closed before you take your piglet out of the kennel. If you feel comfortable you can hold your piggy on the drive home.  Use the baby wipes to clean up any mess and cuddle the baby in the towel or blanket.   If you need, you can use a bottle of water to rinse out the dirty kennel.

Best practice is to place the piglet back into the kennel or into a clean one for the ride home.  The baby is going to be so nervous, tired, and stressed from the trip.

Piglet Homecoming

When you get home place the kennel in the piglets safe, prepared area.  Let him/her come out on its own to discover the new environment.  Sit on the floor with your piglet in the piggy area. Make water available and offer pellets or cheerios out of your hand.  The trip will have really stressed baby out so if it’s not interested in food, don’t push it.  Leave pellets out, along with water.   

Remember to move slowly and quietly.  Sudden movements are very startling.  We tell the piglet what we are going to do before we do it.  So if you want to pick your piglet up, say up and then grab the piglet quickly.  The strange hands going after them may scare them initially.  If you always say what you are preparing to do, the piglet will quickly learn you mean no harm.

Check out our tips for socializing here.