Cheech the Lion

Cheech joined the sanctuary in 2015 from our hometown, arriving as the result of a couple’s divorce. He was originally purchased from a breeder in South Florida as a pet for their son, but when the mom and son moved away, Cheech was left in the care of the dad, who had never bonded with him. By that time, Cheech was two years old, unneutered, and living alone in a pen that was too small for him. This isolation and lack of proper socialization and enrichment, along with the male hormones, led him to become aggressive towards the dad. On top of that, the dad was selling the house and moving, with no plans to take Cheech along.

So, Cheech came to live at the sanctuary, making a quick stop at the vet first to be neutered and vaccinated. When he arrived, he immediately established himself as the top pig, with all the other pig residents bowing down to him and letting him rule. He even challenged Skye quite a few times! Despite his feisty tendencies, Cheech has always been gentle and respectful toward children, especially Summer when she was young, clearly showing the positive impact of being raised by a child.

Cheech is a very special pig. He sits on command, is extremely photogenic, and is one of the sanctuary’s most vocal residents. He came with his name and has earned the affectionate title "Cheech the Lion" due to his big personality and his impressive, lion-like mane. Cheech lives with the main OG herd, fondly referred to as "Gen Pop," alongside many of our original residents. His presence and unique character have made him an unforgettable member of the FPAS family.