When Kirsten Duggan, founder of Sweet Acres Pig Sanctuary in Ontario, got a call from animal control about a 13-year-old duck who needed a home, she hesitated.
Her sanctuary was full of rescued potbelly pigs — not ducks — and she wasn’t sure how a lone waterfowl would fit in with her herd of 10 hefty pigs.
Still, she couldn’t say no to giving the little duck, named Charlie, a second chance.
Charlie arrived at Sweet Acres in March — shy, uncertain, and completely out of place. But it didn’t take long for her to find the last friend anyone expected: a 7-year-old pig named Pebbles.
“They just have this bond,” Duggan told The Dodo. “They run to each other. Whenever they’re out, they’re together.”
Every day, Pebbles and Charlie spend hours side by side — napping, grooming, and simply enjoying each other’s company. Charlie gently preens Pebbles’ ears with her beak, while Pebbles lowers her head, letting her tiny friend snuggle close.
At first, Duggan worried about their size difference — Pebbles weighs around 180 pounds, while Charlie barely tips the scale at 4. But the gentle pig seems to know exactly how delicate her little friend is.
“They’re inseparable,” Duggan said. “It’s such a unique relationship. They just love each other.”
Both Pebbles and Charlie have strong personalities — the kind that don’t always make fitting in easy. Pebbles never quite meshed with the other pigs, while Charlie tends to waddle off on her own. But somehow, these two outsiders found exactly what they needed in each other.
“They just come together,” Duggan said. “It’s like magic.”
Pebbles’ story makes their friendship even more moving. Four years ago, she was rescued from a slaughterhouse where she lived in a dark, filthy concrete stall.
She had been overfed until she developed fat blindness, a condition where excess skin folds blocked her eyes. Her hair was missing, and her spirit was broken.
With months of care and proper nutrition, Pebbles began to heal — shedding 75 pounds, regrowing her hair, and rediscovering her joy. Today, she’s healthy, active, and thriving — with Charlie faithfully by her side.
“She’s doing great,” Duggan said. “And she’s much happier now.”
Duggan started Sweet Acres Pig Sanctuary ten years ago after learning the heartbreaking truth about so-called “teacup pigs.” Determined to give real homes to unwanted pigs, she began rescuing one after another — eventually creating a safe haven for those who had nowhere else to go.
“I like to rescue the ones with no hope,” she said.
Now, Sweet Acres isn’t just a sanctuary — it’s a place of healing, for both animals and people. The pigs and their unlikely friends bring comfort to visitors of all ages, from children to adults with disabilities and teens struggling with mental health.
“The biggest reward is giving back to the community,” Duggan said.
And thanks to her compassion, two misfits — one pig and one duck — have found in each other what everyone deserves: unconditional love.
To support Sweet Acres Pig Sanctuary, you can make a donation here.
