Grant, a 13-year-old from Lambertville, barely qualified Rebound for the fair, but it had nothing to do with tardiness or procrastination. Grant, who’s been raising pigs since he was 8, almost didn’t participate this year because his original entries, two show pigs, were attacked and killed by dogs inside the family barn at Whiteford Center and Smith Rds. two months ago.
“I really wanted to be here,” said Grant, who participates in the 12-year-old division and is a member of the Royal Clovers of Ottawa Lake. “It was very important.”
Big Pig and Mini Me, which were worth thousands of dollars, were mauled to death in May. Grant’s mother, Stephanie, came upon the bloody scene inside the family barn and intervened. One of the dogs lunged at her and she had to fend it off with a board.
The pet dogs were an Australian shepherd and a Siberian husky that escaped their Toledo home and made their way to the Sonnenberg barn. They continue to be held at the Monroe County Animal Control kennels and officials said they are expected to be euthanized soon.
The loss of his two pigs so bothered Grant that he gets upset just thinking about that day.
“I saw the dogs with blood everywhere,” he said quietly.
The pigs were more than just show animals. To Grant, they were pets with distinct personalities. It was not easy to accept.
“He couldn’t even go into the barn,” Ms. Sonnenberg said. “It’s been very hard.”
Grant’s sister, Ashleigh, 28, who grew up in 4-H, said the situation was traumatic.
“Nothing like this has ever happened before,” she said. “They really do become your pets.”
At first Grant didn’t want to participate in this year’s fair. Not only did he lose his pigs but getting a replacement was nearly impossible because registration, or tagging, was only four days after the incident.
When someone offered a pig to Grant, it was a nice gesture. The problem was the pig was small. The minimum weight for pigs to be shown at the fair is 220 pounds. In May, pigs typically are around 120 pounds. But Rebound, Grant’s new entry, was a scrawny 60 pounds.
So for the next few weeks, Grant went to work. He would spray Rebound with water to roust him from his slumber. Up and awake, the pig then decided it was a good time to eat, which led to weight gain. Also Grant always carries cubes of sugar in his pockets for quick treats. Rebound has eaten his way through many boxes.
“We’ve never had to keep at it like that before,” Ms. Sonnenberg said. “We’ve never had to push to gain weight. It was something new for all of us.”
In some ways, working with Rebound was therapeutic for Grant. He became more focused on his new project instead of what he lost. And when the official weigh-in came, Rebound made
it. And, yes, that name is significant. Sure, Grant likes basketball but it also represents bouncing back and moving forward.
On Friday, Grant’s pig will be up for sale. When Rebound made weight, Grant said he was both nervous and relieved.
“It definitely has been a memorable year,” Ms. Sonnenberg said.
Ashleigh wasn’t surprised her little brother endured. The fair and 4-H have been a big part of the family for years.
“This family has had the bug for this for a long time,” she said. “It is definitely a family affair. We’ve always worked together.”
(Bedford Now - Aug 1, 2013)
