Presenting Anna & Maybelle

Tracey Stewart with adopted pigs Anna & Maybelle

Tracey Stewart with adopted piglets Anna & Maybelle

Life doesn’t get much better for a pig than it is for Anna and Maybelle. Their adoptive mom is animal activist and Do Unto Animals author Tracey Stewart. Dad is none other than Jon Stewart, former host of “The Daily Show.” Their new parents make sure they have plenty of fresh straw to nest in, a spacious pasture to run and play, and healthy food to eat — even spoiling them with the occasional treat. Tracey, Jon, and their two children treat Anna and Maybelle like a part of the family — and they are quickly becoming just that.

How did two pigs who were just months ago destined for slaughter become part of the Stewart clan? Sit tight, because it was a long journey to this happy ending.

Rescue from the Roadside

When an animal activist named Julie Robertson gazed out of her window while driving a busy road in Georgia, she was certainly not expecting to see two rogue piglets trotting along the highway. But that is exactly what she saw in the summer of 2015, when she first spotted Anna and Maybelle. The piglets were visibly terrified, confused, and exhausted. Anna was limping along with an injured leg, and Maybelle’s infected eye didn’t make their journey any easier. It was clear that these two little pigs needed to get to safety —  and fast!

Rescue piglets

Maybelle and Anna shortly after their rescue from a roadside.

Anna and Maybelle were so frightened that it took Julie two days to catch them. Eventually, the girls were so hungry that they allowed Julie to coax them into a crate with treats and whisk them to safety. When the pair arrived at her house to a nest made out of blankets. Finally safe, the little pigs were so worn out from their ordeal that they headed straight for the cozy pile and were snoring almost instantly.

Where did they come from?

We can only guess based on past rescues, but we believe Anna and Maybelle fell from a transport truck. Piglets are notorious for squirming their way out of trailers, sometimes falling onto the highway without the driver even noticing. Such a fall can be fatal for young animals, but these two tough girls avoided serious injury, and managed to stay out of oncoming traffic. Most importantly, they managed to stay together, which helped them both survive their scary ordeal.

Anna & Maybelle piglets

Anna and Maybelle love exploring their world together!

If they had remained on the truck, the piglets likely would have been heading to a stockyard, where animals are bought and sold. There, piglets are sold to “finishing operations,” where they are raised until they are just six months old and then sent to slaughter.

Fortunately Anna and Maybelle narrowly escaped this sad fate, and now they will live out their lives splashing in puddles, squealing with joy, and rooting like pigs should!

Becoming the Newest Stewarts

When Farm Sanctuary first heard about Anna and Maybelle, we immediately offered them a home at our rescued animal shelter in New York. And that is where they met the Stewarts.

Anna and Maybelle’s story captured the hearts of Jon and Tracey upon first meeting while they were on a tour of the sanctuary. And soon they had a place not only in their hearts, but in their home!

Tracey Stewart with adopted pigs Maybelle and Anna

Tracey with Maybelle and Anna.

“Anna and Maybelle are a parent’s dream,” says Tracey. “They are cuddly, playful and supportive of one another. They are generous — always willing to offer up their bellies for rubs when you need it.”

And now the real journey begins.

As they regain their health, Anna and Maybelle’s unique personalities are starting to emerge. The friends, possibly sisters, are closely bonded. The girls take great comfort in each other, just as they have since their frightening two days on the roadside.

Each day they are learning to live like piglets: playing, exploring, and even chasing the Stewarts’ two children around the pasture, to everyone’s delight. We can only imagine the bright future and fun that lies ahead for these two pigs lucky enough to be rescued — and by the Stewart family, no less!

Everyone who has met Anna and Maybelle is simply squealing with delight as we watch these “PFFs” (pig friends forever) grow into their personalities. Follow Anna and Maybelle’s journey at The Daily Squeal!

Anna and Maybelle piglets

Anna & Maybelle, PFFs!

20 thoughts on “Presenting Anna & Maybelle

  1. What a wonderful thing you are doing. There is so much more to do to stop the terrible massive animal cruelty. This is a great example to others. If only we all had your voice, resources and courage.

  2. What an adorable and thoughtful story. It makes my heart melt and wish to be there. I see the kindness and caring u have for these They are and in good hands with u. Can play whenever they want, eat whenever they want, and the loving they get from the whole family. U are special

  3. This effort of Tracey and Jon’s makes my heart smile as broadly as my face! Anna and Maybelle… you will have an awesome life and many new friends soon, all of whom will have ‘won the lottery” in getting to this sanctuary!

  4. Although we will miss Jon nightly we admire what he and his wife are doing to protect and save defenseless animals.. They can put a face on the plight of animals that most people can not..Rescues work tirelessly to protect and save it is an endless plight and they can bring attention to that plight. I am so happy to see attention paid to pigs who have never had the attention they deserve. Thank you for all that you do to save and protect animals in need..

  5. Wonderful!

    Piggies are so cute and smart. I gave up pork (sorry to call them that) many years ago.

  6. Thank you so much for sharing this incredible and happy story! I look forward to follwing more about Anna and Maybelle adventure!

  7. This is wonderful! I’m happy there are ther people out there who believe other creatures in our ecosystem should be treated with respect too. Keep up the great work!

  8. You are such wonderful people. I wish all humans were this compassionate. It breaks my heart daily when I think about how awful most humans are to animals.

  9. Bless the Stewarts for opening their hearts to farm animals. Great people who will have a lot of influence for their rescue and sanctuary. A huge thank you!!

  10. This is so great that Jon and his family are doing this! I’ve always dreamt of having land and the money to open up an Animal Sanctuary. If you ever need a helping hand I’d be glad to volunteer!! Best wishes, Kat

  11. Great Story…. thanks for the blog! I have a heart for piggies and would like in some way or to help rescue them from our agricultural system

  12. My heart overflows for these two awesome piglets and this beautiful story. I am so glad the Stewarts are joining Farm Sanctuary, and I look forward to visiting your farm at some point when that becomes possible. All my thanks to you. And, I’m envious of the love and joy you both give and receive these two fine souls! Bless you, Joy

  13. What an awesome story! So great that Jon and Tracey do this for animals. Keep up the outstanding and very important work!

  14. Kudos to the Stewarts. What kind, caring, compassionate people they are. Wish everyone could treat animals the way they do. What a wonderful world this would be.