The population of pigs kept as pets have skyrocketed in recent years due to their affectionate and intelligent nature. Pigs are entertaining and can be house-trained, just like dogs. Pigs have a massive appetite for food. They are foragers and always looking for food. They overturn bins, containers, open fridges and cupboards, and anywhere they can smell food. The intelligence of pigs makes them fun to be around. They demand attention, and when bored, they become aggressive and can cause destruction.

Sometimes, we travel, leaving pigs alone in the house. They may get bored or start looking for food. Their rooting behavior may destroy your home’s carpets, walls, or furniture. Unlike dogs, pigs cannot stay in the same place without loitering.

Unfortunately, no toys are on the market to keep pigs stimulated and out of trouble. That is why Inventors Vanessa Pearson of Chatsworth, GA, and Rachel Savino of McHenry, IL, came up with the Preoccupied Pals, which aligns pigs with their natural behaviors and prevents costly damage to your house.

What are Preoccupied Pals

Rachel and Vanessa are pig owners who have, for a very long time, tried coming up with a toy that would have the two critical components of a pig, i.e., food and rooting. They wanted a toy that would keep pets in their homes and ease the frustration of most pig owners.

There was a massive problem amongst many pig owners who wanted a toy to keep their pigs stimulated and minimize their trouble. They saw firsthand many owners abandoning and surrendering their pigs to animal control. Thus, they developed Preoccupied Pals!

Features and Benefits

Preoccupied Pals integrates a sturdy wooden frame holding a PVC pipe with drilled holes where food or treats are dispensed in small amounts. The pipe contains a removable end cap on each end for easy filling of food into the toy by pet owners. In its natural rooting behavior, the pig smells the food inside before nudging the pipe, and the food pieces will fall slowly.

The good thing about Preoccupied Pals is that it controls overfeeding. Additionally, the pet pig gets entertained and kept busy, thus promoting its physical activity. Preoccupied Pals can be installed both outdoors and indoors easily. Lastly, the invention from Inventors Vanessa Pearson and Rachel Savino is fully engineered and has a prototype available