It's come time to upgrade our housing for the 234 residents at CTPR. We are looking to purchase 3 custom-built barns by a local builder, a new run-in shed for our donkeys & goats, and modify our existing housing to better suit our population.





Why is this important?

With an aging population, and many pigs who have been afflicted with illnesses from their prior situations, protecting them from the elements has become more important than ever. Professionally built housing will help the pigs, alleviate time resources dedicated to fixing housing after winter storms, and avoid the routine maintenance expenses that "surprise" us each year.





What's our current housing situation?

All of our current housing has been built over the years by our volunteer team. It's served us well, but most of our pigs have doubled, tripled (or more!) in size since they first arrived. Our Volunteer Animal Care Team needs to routinely repair (and often rebuild) the housing after harsh and stormy winters. Land erosion and the curious nature of pigs have caused much damage over the years.





Our Caldwell pigs (the 133 pigs rescued from an animal cruelty case in August 2018 in Caldwell County) have been challenged in adjusting to sanctuary life. When they were rescued by animal control, many of the pigs were stuck in their housing and needed to have the housing dismantled to be freed. Consequently, many of the pigs (especially the older ones) won't use their houses because of the emotional trauma. We've recently tried opening the entire front of their houses, but over half still snuggle up outside.





What makes for ideal pig housing?

We've found that ideal pig barns are short (under 6' tall), have large doors (often covered with flaps that they can walk through), and are cozy enough that pigs can keep warm the way they best know how: by snuggling. As herd animals, cuddling up is an important part of their social dynamic. Lots of straw makes for ideal bedding.





For our Caldwell pigs, we are in need of large houses with giant doors and an open floor plan so the pigs know they're not in danger.





New barns for Megapen, Big Kids, and the Backyard:

Sturdi-Bilt, a local barn builder, is thrilled to take on this project. The barns will be built and finished off site.





The total cost for 3 barns to be built and delivered is $17,850.





Two (2) 12'x36' barns for the Big Kids and Megapen Pigs (which includes most of our general population). These barns will have two 6' openings (which could optionally be covered with carpet flaps), will be 6' tall in the front, and slope to 4' tall in the back. They'll have a 2' overhang in the front to keep rain out and a galvalume metal roof. Each barn costs $7800.





One (1) 8'x8' barn for the Backyard pigs (to later be modified to include a heater for pigs like Lance who cannot regulate his own body temperature). It will have two 3' pig doors (with awnings), one "human" size door in the middle, and will be 8' tall with a galvalume metal roof. This barn costs $1675.





After delivery, our volunteer team will insulate and plywood the interiors of the barns.





A new run-in shed for the donkeys & goats:





A new run-in shed for the donkeys & goats would involve on-site assembly, and will cost $1650.





Modifications to existing housing:





Repurpose the existing 3 Big Kid houses for the Caldwell pigs, more than doubling their housing space. Moving and modifying (insulating, reinforcing) these houses will cost approximately $1000.





Modify two of the existing red houses, including adding a floor, reinforcing and insulating. One red house will be repurposed for Bailey's pen, and one will remain a Megapen house in case not all of the pigs want to integrate in their new large barn. Estimated cost is $1000 total.





The total cost for all of the housing improvements is $21,450.