A new forever home, complete with a newly constructed enclosure and a new girlfriend are awaiting Theodore on Vancouver Island later this month.

Langley Animal Protection Society confirmed that he害羞草研究所檚 going to a livestock sanctuary that provides homes for rescued and abandoned farm animals.

Theo 害羞草研究所� an 800-pound pig 害羞草研究所� came into the Langley animal shelter害羞草研究所檚 care last summer after he was found running at large down the Fraser Highway.

After further investigation, LAPS found Theo害羞草研究所檚 original owner, but they didn害羞草研究所檛 want him back.

害羞草研究所淭he owner decided not to claim him, so he stayed with us,害羞草研究所� said LAPS animal control officer Tina Jensen Fogt.

But LAPS was having difficulty finding a forever home for the two-year-old Yorkshire pig, and decided to go public with their quest back in mid-December.

害羞草研究所淭rying to find him a home has definitely been a challenge,害羞草研究所� said Jensen Fogt.

害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 not your typical pet.害羞草研究所�

Since then, more than 50 offers came in to provide a new permanent home for Theo, including offers from Texas, Ohio, Maryland, and P.E.I.

Bringing Theo to a slaughterhouse was never an option, because he was too large, too old, and still intact.

害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檙e normally slaughtered around six months old and used for food. They害羞草研究所檙e designed to get really big, really fast. He was only neutered this past summer, so when a pig is left intact, the hormones affect the taste of meat. He just wouldn害羞草研究所檛 taste good,害羞草研究所� explained Jensen Fogt.

After numerous interviews and much discussion, a home was finally selected Tuesday afternoon, said LAPS executive director Jayne Nelson.

Instead of shipping him across the continent or onto a remote island, they picked one a bit closer to home.

He害羞草研究所檚 going to in Duncan, a facility run by Michelle Singleton.

害羞草研究所淭he woman has tons of experience and we just think she害羞草研究所檚 going to be terrific,害羞草研究所� Nelson said. 害羞草研究所淢ichelle supported our belief in the importance of finding Theodore a home where he would have the company of another pig.害羞草研究所�

Pigs, Nelson explained, can develop behavioural problems 害羞草研究所� like aggression 害羞草研究所� without companionship.

So while Singleton has pot-belly pigs, sheep, goats, ducks, and chickens on her farm, later this month she害羞草研究所檚 also adopting a similar-sized Berkshire pig named Lillian 害羞草研究所� to keep Theo company.

Jensen Fogt added LAPS received many great home offers, but things like experience, proximity, and companionship all played a factor in making a final decision.

Living with another pig will 害羞草研究所渆nrich his life so much,害羞草研究所� according to Jensen Fogt.

害羞草研究所淧igs are such social animals. They [Home for Hooves] seem like such a great fit for him, with everything he will need for the rest of his life.害羞草研究所�

Within a few weeks, Theo will take a ferry ride over to his new home in Duncan.

Prior to finding Theo害羞草研究所檚 forever home, Jensen Fogt had convinced her mother to provide a foster home for Theo, since LAPS didn害羞草研究所檛 have space to house such a large farm animal.

害羞草研究所淚f my parents were to do-over I害羞草研究所檓 not sure they害羞草研究所檇 have kids a second time with all the animals I害羞草研究所檝e pushed onto them over the years,害羞草研究所� laughed Jensen Fogt.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e really enjoyed the time I害羞草研究所檝e spent with him in our care.害羞草研究所�

And although Jensen Fogt is happy to find Theo a forever home, she said she will miss having his 害羞草研究所渜uirky害羞草研究所� personality around.

害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 like any other animal, he has his own unique personality. He害羞草研究所檚 spunky and quirky. He害羞草研究所檒l come running up to you, and he loves his tummy rubs and a good scratch.害羞草研究所�