Click on each question and the answer will pop up below!
Who is Maple the Pig?
Maple is a rescued pig living at Sisu Refuge, a farmed animal sanctuary in North Carolina. She was rescued the night before Halloween, October 30th, 2025 and has been here since.
Was Maple pregnant?
Yes. During her early recovery, we discovered Maple was pregnant.
What happened to Maple’s babies?
Maple experienced a miscarriage after her rescue. She was treated at NC State and monitored with veterinary support. Her body finished the miscarriage here at the sanctuary.
What are Saplings?
When we did Maple’s pregnancy test live with our community, we discussed baby names and said we should name them after different types of trees. Maple’s future babies were then called “Saplings,” meaning baby trees.
What happened to Maple’s partner?
Maple’s partner was hit by multiple vehicles on I-70 and was left in the middle of the highway for hours, unable to walk. Police arrived and euthanized him on the side of the road.
Why was Maple on the highway?
Maple and her partner had escaped a nearby farm and ended up lost on the interstate.
Were the men who tied Maple up ever prosecuted?
No. Unfortunately, pigs and other animals labeled as “livestock” do not have the same legal protections as dogs and cats.
How did you know where Maple was?
Animal control officers got the driver’s phone number before he left with Maple. When they realized he wasn’t bringing her to the shelter, they allowed us to call him. Despite a language barrier, my dad convinced them to let us come get Maple.
Who are Pepper and Poppy?
Pepper and Poppy are two piglets Joseph saved from a commercial nursery farm who were introduced to Maple after her miscarriage.
What happened to the first piglet, Yuri?
We rescued a piglet from a cull line before saving Pepper and Poppy. His name was Yuri. We intended to introduce him to Maple, but he did not survive. That video is here.
Did Maple adopt Pepper and Poppy?
Yes. Through a slow and careful introduction process, Maple began mothering them and allowing them to nurse.
Who is Gandalf, and why is he with Maple?
Gandalf is a rooster who bonded closely with Maple during her pregnancy and stayed near her during her loss. He became a protective companion around Maple and the piglets.
Where do Maple and the piglets live now?
They live together at Sisu Refuge in a dedicated maternity space called med-bay and are beginning to transition into a family herd.
Can Gandalf go with them when they move?
Gandalf has always had free access to the entire property. He chooses to be with Maple and will likely follow her wherever she goes.
How can I support Maple and her family?
You can support Maple through sponsorships, donations toward veterinary care and ongoing needs, or by sharing her official story page or YouTube series.
What is the official source for Maple’s story?
Maple’s official story is documented by Sisu Refuge on our website. If you see versions elsewhere, we recommend linking back to this page as the primary reference.
How do I know this story isn’t AI?
Maple is very real. Her story has not been altered or generated by AI and is one of many real rescue stories documented by Sisu Refuge.
Maple the Pig: From Emergency Rescue to Loss – and Becoming a Mother Again
The full story of Maple’s rescue, healing, pregnancy loss, and the family she built in spite of it all — told by the people who were there.
The night before Halloween, a frightened young pig named Maple came within moments of losing her life.
Instead, she became the center of one of the most emotional rescue stories our sanctuary has ever experienced – a story that has now reached tens of millions of people around the world.
This is Maple’s full story, told by the people who were there when it happened.
An Urgent Call That Changed Everything
Late in the evening on October 30th, Sisu Refuge received an emergency call from animal control officers in Lenoir County, North Carolina.
What we were told was alarming – and time-sensitive.
Earlier that day, Maple and another pig had been loose on the I70 in New Bern, NC. Her companion was struck multiple times by passing vehicles… he was left in the center of the highway. When police arrived, they euthanized the other pig, and Maple was scared and fled into the woods alone.
Later, Maple was spotted on a doorbell camera in a nearby neighborhood. Police and animal control searched for her but couldn’t find her. They called us to ask for help trapping or loading her if she was found.
While we were still on the phone, another call came in.
A neighbor reported a group of men chasing and beating a pig with sticks.
The sounds were horrifying. Officers immediately responded.
By the time they arrived, Maple had been hog-tied and immobilized in the back of a work trailer.
The men told officers they would transport Maple to the shelter and exchanged phone numbers – but they never arrived. Instead, they drove her home to kill her.
When officers realized Maple wasn’t coming, we asked for the man’s number and called. There was a language barrier, but my dad spoke with the men and managed to convince them to let us come take her instead. We immediately hooked up the trailer and drove to the address.
When we arrived, we found Maple tied so tightly she could barely lift her head.
She had urinated all over herself in fear. She was trembling. Her body showed clear signs of trauma. She flinched at even the gentlest touch and was utterly exhausted from prolonged fear and restraint.
We shared the rescue in real time because we didn’t know how it would end.
What we did know was this:
If we didn’t act immediately, Maple would not survive the day.
The First Night: Safety for the First Time
Within hours, Maple was transported to safety at Sisu Refuge.
Just twenty-four hours after her rescue, the change was already visible.
Wrapped in a thick bed of hay, warm and finally able to rest, Maple slept deeply for the first time in what we believe had been a very long while. Nearby, two resident pigs stood at the fence, quietly vocalizing – a gentle introduction into a world that was no longer threatening. A nanny goat popped in repeatedly to welcome her.
Maple was just beginning to learn what it felt like.
In the days that followed, Maple’s injuries began to heal.
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Rope burns faded
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Swelling and bruising diminished
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Her breathing slowed and she wasn’t as jumpy
Our co-founder Joseph, the man who untied her, spent hours simply sitting with her while she ate, offering calm presence without pressure.
As Maple relaxed, something remarkable happened – a biological response seen only when pigs feel deeply secure. Female pigs release a specific combination of pheromones and hormones when they feel safe, connected, and content…
It smells exactly like maple syrup.
It’s a biological sign we don’t take lightly.
For us, it meant Maple was no longer just surviving.
She was healing.
And that’s how Maple got her name.
The Discovery That Changed Everything Again
Just days into Maple’s recovery, something unexpected emerged.
She was pregnant!
After everything she had endured – the fear, restraint, displacement, and trauma – Maple had been fighting not only for herself, but for her babies.
The reality set in quickly:
If Maple had not been rescued when she was, none of them would have survived.
We waited, and Maple moved into a perfectly piglet pink maternity suite, she continued to heal and began thriving. Then one day, she went into labor. Or so we thought….
What we believed was the beginning of something beautiful was actually Maple’s body finishing a loss. The trauma Maple endured during her rescue had caused her to miscarry and her body had begun reabsorbing the piglets…. The movement we thought we saw on ultrasound was hope – not life.
We rushed her to the nearest university veterinary hospital to help her through it.
She came home heartbroken and alone.
Maple grieved.
She repeatedly returned to the corner where the loss had occurred, searching.
And we knew something in her still needed healing.
We believed Maple deserved the chance to be a mother.
Joseph was able to rescue two piglets from a nearby nursery farm who had just lost their mothers.
We introduced them to Maple gently and intentionally. She was overwhelmed at first, but definitely interested. On their second meeting, Maple began mothering them – letting them nurse, cuddling, comforting – as if they had always been hers.
The piglets fell in love with her just as quickly.
Gandalf, the Unexpected Protector
And through it all, a little, lonely rooster Gandalf stepped up.
Gandalf became Maple’s constant companion. He stood with her when she lost her babies. Cuddled her when she was grieving and now stands guard while the babies played and eat. He has stayed close through it all. Roosters are natural protectors — and Gandalf made it clear this was his family.
Today, Maple, her adopted piglets Pepper and Poppy, and Gandalf still live together in a little pink house – surrounded by safety, companionship, and love.
Not because everything went as planned.
But because healing sometimes means building a family in a different way.
Why Maple’s Story Matters
Maple’s story isn’t just about rescue. It’s about trauma, loss, resilience – and healing in unexpected ways with chosen family.
She reminds us that safety can change everything, that grief doesn’t cancel love, and that sometimes motherhood looks nothing like we imagined.
Maple’s story is still unfolding. Thank you for being part of her story.
FAQ
Yes. While regular volunteering requires a commitment, we do occasionally host group volunteer days and special workdays that do not require a long-term commitment.
These opportunities are best suited for:
Company or team-building groups
Homeschool groups and classrooms
Universities and student organizations
Organized community groups
Groups interested in a one-time volunteer opportunity are encouraged to contact us directly to discuss availability. Sisurefuge@gmail.com
Yes. Sisu Refuge does periodically hire for part-time, contract, or project-based roles as funding allows.
Current openings, when available, are posted on Indeed or through our Get Involved section of the website. We encourage interested individuals to follow us or reach out through our contact form to express interest in future opportunities.
Yes — we do offer free group tours, but only on specific, pre-scheduled dates.
We host Spring Open Barn Days and Summer Tours when weather, staffing, and animal needs allow. Tour availability varies year to year, so the best way to stay informed is to:
Sign up for our newsletter
Follow us on social media, where tour dates are announced first
If you would like a private tour, please check out our Visit Us section on the website.
Sisu Refuge does not accept direct owner surrenders. However, we do maintain a waitlist to help us track need and better understand situations in our region, and we will occasionally have placement open up here or a potential adopter inquiry.
Submitting a request places an animal on our waitlist but does not guarantee intake. Due to limited space and the long-term care required for each resident, we are only able to accept new animals when capacity allows.
For emergency cases involving loose or injured animals (“jumpers”), we work directly with local law enforcement and animal control within our county and surrounding areas.
Yes – however, because we are a very small team and volunteer training is time-intensive, we can only invest in regular volunteers who are able to commit to two shifts per week for a minimum of six months.
Sisu Refuge is located in a rural area, and most of our regular volunteers travel approximately one hour each way, so we encourage prospective volunteers to consider the time commitment carefully before applying. If you are interested in becoming a regular volunteer, please click on volunteer with us in our GET INVOLVED section.
At this time, we do not allow individual drop-in or one-time volunteers. For the safety of both our animals and our team – orientation and signed waivers are required for all regular volunteers.
Sisu Refuge is a true lifetime sanctuary, and we do not operate as an adoption-based rescue. Animals who arrive here do so with the understanding that they are receiving permanent, lifelong care.
That said, we do maintain a separate waitlist of animals and owner surrenders for individuals who are seeking to adopt or rehome a large-breed pig. While we do not place animals directly from the sanctuary, this waitlist allows us to help connect knowledgeable, prepared homes with pigs in need when appropriate.
Anyone interested in adopting a large-breed pig should be aware that proper care requires:
Ownership of the property where the animal will live
A secure, species-appropriate setup with adequate space and shelter
An established farm or large-animal veterinarian
A willingness and ability to provide care for 10+ years, as pigs are long-lived animals
Large-breed pigs are complex, intelligent animals and are not suitable pets for most households. We also recommend adopting in pairs. Our priority is always ensuring their long-term safety, stability, and welfare.
Sisu Refuge is not open for drop-in visitors. For the safety of our animals and the privacy of our small team, all visits must be scheduled in advance through official events or tours. We will be hosting open barn barns and free tours all summer, so please make sure to sign up for our Newsletter and follow us on social media to be notified of the upcoming dates.
Unscheduled arrivals cannot be accommodated.
Yes. Sisu Refuge occasionally offers internships and work-study opportunities, depending on current capacity and project needs. These opportunities may involve animal care support, administration, communications, fundraising, or social media assistance.
Because our team is small, internship availability is limited and varies throughout the year. Interested applicants should complete our volunteer or contact form and note their interest in internships or work-study so we can follow up when opportunities align.
Yes. While much of our work is hands-on and on-site, we do offer remote or off-site volunteer opportunities when possible. These may include support with administrative tasks, outreach, fundraising assistance, research, or digital projects.
Remote opportunities depend on current needs and supervision capacity. Those interested should indicate remote volunteering when completing a volunteer inquiry form. We are looking at forming a fundraising committee – and are always in need of grant writers or administrative assistance! Please email us with how you can help the animals (and humans) here at Sisu! Sisurefuge@gmail.com
Animals who come to Sisu Refuge stay for the rest of their lives.
We are a true animal sanctuary, meaning:
We do not buy, breed, sell, trade, or use animals
We do not kill or exploit animals for any purpose
We do not allow animals to be used for food, labor, or profit
Once an animal is welcomed into sanctuary, they are given the time, space, and care needed to live out their lives with dignity and security. This lifelong commitment is central to our mission and is why we limit intakes carefully – every resident represents a promise we intend to keep.
We have offered this in the past but saw very little interest. At this time, we do not offer camping, overnight stays, or on-site accommodations.
Because Sisu is a working animal sanctuary and private residence, we are unable to host overnight guests or short-term stays. We will be launching an AirB&B opportunity soon for summer. Please sign up for our Newsletter to be kept up to date.