An Interview with The White Pig Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper and Vegan Chef, Dina Brigish

What makes The White Pig special?
I think it is a combinations of many things. Firstly, we serve all vegan (& almost all organic) meals. We aren't just vegan friendly, leaving the guests to go over cans & can nots of their diets. They can just relax & enjoy all the food.

Another unique part of The White Pig experience is that we combine the element of a small pig rescue with the inn. (giving guests the opportunity to visit with farm animals that aren't for consumption or show.)

Secondly, our remote location. Our driveway is almost a mile off a scenic Virginia Byway. We are surrounded by acres of meadows & forest creating a very private environment. The location is quiet & and light pollution free providing guests with great star viewing (mother nature allowing). Often times historic inns are right on a major road, but not our inn.

Finally, the size of the inn. Generally we accommodate only 3 couples at a time for an intimate experience.

What is in store for a visitor to the White Pig?
Great vegan food, lots of cute rescued pot bellied pigs (dogs & cats), guest rooms decorated after their namesakes (one of the pigs) that have king size bed & private bathroom and a beautifully renovated Victorian farmhouse. Lots of walking trails and a outdoor hot tub. Loads of peace & quiet. Beautiful surroundings.

Operating a Bed and Breakfast seems very demanding, what gives you the drive to continue the White Pig?
I opened the inn as a resource to rescue animals, educate the public about the vegan lifestyle & introduce people to great vegan food (& possibly getting them to try veganism themselves). My vegan ethics & rescued pigs keep me going on the days I would rather stay in bed & sleep.

What are the challenges and rewards of operating a vegan business?
I was told by many people that I would have to include eggs & dairy (or some said fish & chicken) to make money. Critics said that a completely vegan business could not support itself. But I ignored the critics and can now successfully say that a vegan business can work.

Vegetarian and Vegan businesses are sprouting up everywhere. Do you have advice for people that are thinking of starting a new vegan business?
Don't comprise your ideas, even if people tell you they won't work. And do what you love & the money will come.

Is the plight of the pot bellied pig getting any better?
This is a subject that has long been controversial among pig rescuers nationwide as we attempt to deal with various government agencies, HSUS and local jurisdictions in an attempt to "do something" to stop the totally unregulated breeding, transportation and sale of the miniatures.

The plight of the potbellies is, if anything, getting worse. Where they originally commanded exorbitantly high prices from "reputable" breeders in the 80's they are now sold for a pittance at flea markets, pet stores and roadside petting zoos as piglets to any susceptible buyer....without informing them of the zoning issues, size issues and the many other factors.that cause these pigs to be badly suited as household companion animals.

Add to this the fact that the few, struggling sanctuaries that sprung up in the 90's to deal with the rapidly growing numbers of "dumped" pigs are now either full and overflowing or desperately trying to survive financially.....while the number of pigs they are being asked to take in is escalating steadily.

Now, as if we didn't have enough problems to deal with, most animal shelters, farm animal sanctuaries, etc....are either unwilling or physically unable to take in these pigs...even on a short term basis.

The few "good homes" we had available for us to place adoptable pigs in are quickly being "used up" and as more and more rural areas become urbanized, the number of available homes is rapidly shrinking. This pushes many so-called "adoptable" pigs into sanctuaries as their last remaining option.

The USDA and even state and local governments refuse steadfastly to consider reclassifying these pigs to put them under the Animal Welfare Act where their breeding, transportation and sale could at least be regulated and controlled by requiring licensure. Nobody....and I mean nobody...is interested in dealing with the growing glut of pigs.

Can you put a recent figure on the amount of unwanted potbellied pigs?
As for numbers.....it would only be a sophisticated, wild guess as to how many pigs are out there. But the number would easily reach into the hundreds of thousands. There is simply no means of data collection nor any money available to even begin to conduct the kind of research that would yield any reliable data. I always tell folks that there are simply "too damned many" of them out there and more being born every day......

An interesting side note to the miniature pig problem is the impact that the "farm pig" rescue is having on them. As awareness in the US grows for the plight of farmed animals, more and more farm pigs are being "rescued" by Good Samaritans with hearts of gold and brains of tapioca pudding. Once rescued, these farm pigs have to "go somewhere" and the large, well funded farm sanctuaries are refusing to take them in unless they come with substantial "dowries" or a great deal of free publicity that will generate many dollars in donations. So the miniature pig sanctuaries are finding themselves pressed into service as an alternative.....stressing their meager resources even further towards the breaking point.

For more information visit:

www.thewhitepig.com

Virginia's own pig sanctuary www.minipigs.org