The Pig Raised With Five Dogs And Now Thinks He Is One Of Them

As the old saying goes, “the dog is man’s best friend,” but this pet pig may disagree. He meets Chowder, the 6-year-old potbellied Vietnamese pig who has his group of unlikely animal friends. The domesticated farm animal lives with five rescued dogs, named Rika, Slick, Nya, James, Bashe, and their human, Shelby Madere, in Southern California. (Altogether, they make up the @piggypoo_and_crew gang.) We know that dogs make great pets, but Chowder proves that he is just as adorable and loving as his furry siblings. Pigs are known to be very friendly and intelligent, and this is especially the case with Vietnamese pigs, who love nothing more than a good hug. “When I look at my team, I see the reflection of who I am in them,” says Shelby, who regularly shares photos of the adorable gang on Instagram. “Your happiness, your safety, your health, your whole life depend on me, and I will never let you down.” Chowder doesn’t let his differences get in the way and often plays in the yard with his canine team and even wears the same collars, tailored to his size, of course.