In unlikely pairing, chicken sees pig through tough time

By Joseph Garcia, Rocky Mountain News

Anthony and Cleopatra. Romeo and Juliet. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes.

Junior and AKA.

“It was like love at first sight,” said Maxine Mager, who owns both Junior, a 15-year-old potbellied pig, and AKA, a 13-year-old hen.

Mager is the director of the Creative Acres Animal Sanctuary, a free range, no-kill animal shelter in Brighton that is home to more than 200 animals of 25 species.

AKA was diagnosed with a bad heart last year, leaving her weak and vulnerable against the pecking order. Mager said she initially put AKA in the pig’s pen last year to protect her from the other chickens.

As soon as Mager put AKA with Junior, the hen quickly ran over to the pig and made herself at home atop his back.

The two have been almost inseparable since September and do just about everything together, Mager said, including sleep (in the winter they huddle close and share a blanket), take little walks and eat.

“He’s not a ‘pig,’ ” Mager jokingly said about Junior’s gentlemanly behavior with AKA. Junior defends AKA as she eats and even lets her take pieces from his mouth.

Junior has had deformed legs since birth but still maintains a high quality of life with Mager that has improved with AKA’s friendship, Mager said.

Junior even served as spokespig for the American Diabetes Association once, spreading the word about how insulin is derived from a pig’s pancreas.

Junior recently fell on hard times, however, and was taken to the Colorado State University’s James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital, where a tumor was found using an ultrasound.

Of course, AKA went along with the pig to keep him company, resting alongside him and sheltering him with her wing, careful not to step on any of his intravenous tubing.

The news of Junior’s tumor was heartbreaking for Mager, who has a close relationship with animals she cares for, especially Junior, whom she has had since he was a piglet.

“These animals are my heart. They’re really a part of me,” Mager said.

It always has been Mager and Creative Acre’s policy to fight hard for the well-being of the animals.

“As long as there’s a quality of life, we give it 150 percent,” Mager said.

For more information about Creative Acres visit www.creativeacres.orgor write to P.O. Box 1143, Brighton, CO 80601.