Coconut has her own billboard on I-40.
Maybe you haven't heard about her yet?
Here are some of the details of her story.
A few years ago, Coconut was surrendered at a local animal shelter. The vets saw that she needed a little extra care. The Blind Spot Animal Sanctuary stepped in to provide hospice care for Coconut. They gave her red light therapy and lots of love. She eventually started walking again. Coconut passed away in 2025, surrounded by loved ones.
Now Coconut represents pigs who are misunderstood, abandoned, and hidden away. She has her own billboard on I-40 in Sampson County, in eastern North Carolina. It's an area dubbed "hog country" because there are so many hog farms there.
While working on this project, I have learned so much about pigs. They're incredibly kind, social, and smart. I admit that they weren't at the top of my list of favorite animals. But now I see that's by design because it's easier to eat pork when you don't think about how it gets to your plate.
We invite you to get to know pigs. There are a lot of way to do it. You can simply watch the video. Contribute to help sanctuaries who rescue the pigs who are desperate enough to jump from transport trucks. You can visit the sanctuaries on visitation days or sign up to volunteer to get to know them even better. But the invitation is there to simply see pigs for the incredible creatures they are.
You can also simply follow Picturing Pigs on Facebook or Instagram to see pictures of real, happy pigs. They are living their best lives, surrounded by loved ones, and enjoying life. It is a safe way to get to know them a little better bit-by-bit.
My daughter recently asked me, "Mama, why do you like pigs so much?"
I told her it's the same reason I love other animals: they're really cool.
Take a peek and tell me what you think when you have a moment.