Ironwood Pig Sanctuary

Pig Sanctuary in Arizona

Our Mission

The Ironwood Pig Sanctuary is dedicated to eliminating the suffering of pot-bellied pigs in Arizona and surrounding states by promoting spaying and neutering, assisting owners and other sanctuaries, and providing a permanent home in a safe, nurturing environment for those that are abandoned, abused, neglected, or unwanted.

Located in Marana (the outskirts of Tucson), we are home to over 600 pot-bellied pigs, making us the largest pot-bellied pig sanctuary in Arizona and one of the largest in the US!

GET INVOLVED

SPonsor a pig

For a $30 monthly donation, you can sponsor a pig to cover their food and health care costs.

You’ll periodically receive pictures and updates about your special pig!

Sponsor

Visit

We host 2-hour tours nearly every Saturday morning.

Sign up for a tour to make some new piggy friends!

Visit

Volunteer

We always have plenty of work to do at Ironwood, from feeding the pigs to doing repairs to socializing our pigs.

We can use any skill, so don’t be shy!

Volunteer

Donate

Your tax-deductible donation allows us to purchase food, make repairs to our 30+ pens and yards, and provide medical care to our over 600 pot-bellied pigs. Thank you!

Donate

In Memory of Donna Scoggin

If you have called the Ironwood Pig Sanctuary in the past few years, it was Donna Scoggin that you spoke with. She answered calls about stray pigs, helped supporters with questions, took information from people needing to find a home for their pig as well as helping with all manner of pig related issues. Sadly, Donna passed away on July 12, 2021. Not only did she handle the sanctuary’s phone calls, but she also wrote hundreds of thank you notes to supporters for donations to Ironwood. She also fostered numerous pigs for the sanctuary and took in many strays since 2004.

Donna was a wonderful, kind person with a huge heart. She will be sorely missed, not only for the work she did for Ironwood but also as our friend.

From the president

July 2021

Dear Supporter,

I would like to start by saying what a wonderful response we had to our 20th Anniversary Newsletter. So many people took the time to write to congratulate us and wish us well in the future. I cannot tell you how much it means to us to receive so many notes and positive words from so many.

And the timing could not be better. As we crossed the actual 20th Anniversary on June 10th the thermometer shot up to over 110 degrees. We are experiencing one of the longest consistent runs of extreme temperatures we have experienced. I know I say this every year and I think every year it is true at the time, but each year it gets worse. We truly need all the encouragement we can get at this time, so thanks very much!

Like so many, we have finally mostly emerged from the COVID crisis. Most of the staff are now vaccinated and we have been able to do a few short tours for out of state travelers who were also vaccinated and wanted the opportunity to see the sanctuary while traveling. The vaccine has made our life much less stressful and we no longer need to have employees off to get tested as frequently like we did for so many months.

Our caution paid off since no one on staff got COVID and we never had to close for quarantine. However, before we do too much celebrating, we are now closed due to the extreme heat. As happens each year, we lose staff because the intense heat is just too much for some to endure and I surely get that.

Many of you may have read or heard of labor shortages. This is certainly true here at the sanctuary. We have suffered from a chronic shortage of staff since the COVID crisis. At that time it was due to so many being off quarantine and getting tested to be sure they were safe to come back to work if they had an illness. I am not sure now of the reason we are having so much trouble getting employees.

I believe it is a combination of heat, distance, and the rising cost of everything which makes it more difficult to work on a sanctuary salary. So we continue to work with many challenges as you will read in the following article, but with your support we will continue our mission and rescue as many pigs as we are able. As we go to press this week, we will be welcoming a group of pigs from Kingman, AZ in a dire situation.

And pictured here is little Olive who was picked up by PACC, Pima Animal Care Center, as a stray with multiple life-threatening dog attack wounds. She was released to us and we have been and will continue to have our veterinarian treat her wounds as she recovers. These are two of so many situations we face daily. With your support we can continue to save and care for pigs like Olive.

Sincerely,

Mary Schanz

President & Cofounder

Visit the Sanctuary

Our visits happen on Saturday mornings during October – April (it’s too hot during the summer!)

Our history

The Ironwood Pig Sanctuary was founded in November 2000 and began accepting pigs in the spring of 2001 to our shelter in Marana, on the outskirts of Tucson. Over the years, we have absorbed over 300 pigs from three failed sanctuaries in Arizona, as well as having rescued over 1,300 others. We provide a permanent home for pigs in a herd setting, with various fields and groupings to fit the individual needs of each pig.

The pigs come to us from local police departments involved in animal abuse cases, from animal shelters, and from people finding them running loose as strays. We accept pigs from owners for many reasons; moving, HOA regulations, divorce, losing their homes, medical problems of the owner, pig behavioral issues or zoning disputes. Any pot-bellied pig that has been abandoned, abused, neglected or unwanted can call the Ironwood Pig Sanctuary their home.

Facilities

The sanctuary is divided into over 30 different fields and yards, each with anywhere from 1 to 45 pigs!

Each field contains shade ramadas, kiddy wading pools, wallows, and automatic waters. It gets hot in Arizona and some of our pigs are carrying a lot of weight! We try to make sure our piggies always have fresh water to drink and to cool down.

Individual pens

Before joining a herd in one of the fields, new arrivals first live in individual pens with daily access to an exercise yard. Here, they are monitored for medical issues that need to be addressed such as spaying or neutering, go through a series of worming, and are evaluated for field placement. The pigs then join a herd based on their physical ability, age, and emotional needs.

Special needs field

The Special Needs Field allows us to provide a safe, loving environment for our pigs with physical or emotional disabilities. Some of our pigs are blind, some have epilepsy, and one big girl is scared of her own shadow. They’re able to cope well within this smaller community!

Peoria field

The Peoria Field currently has the largest herd with 39 pigs! The majority of this group came from one rescue at a home where the owners were charged with animal abuse and neglect then forced by the court system to relinquish their pigs, several of whom were pregnant.

Assisted living

The Assisted Living Field is our retirement home for the elderly pigs dealing with arthritis and other age-related issues. Here, our elderly pigs receive more individualized care and attention throughout each day without the younger pigs constantly bothering them!

Gotham City

Gotham City is a small field used for a group of 11 young hog mixes that came from a home where they had little food or water and were used as a constant source of breeding to sell for meat. Having a place of their own has allowed them to remain bonded as a family group as well as given them the opportunity to grow and flourish with the extra rations and vitamin supplements they needed to overcome the malnutrition previously suffered.

Hospice

Our small hospice area allows us to provide close monitoring and to ensure a high quality of life for our pigs in the last stages of their lives. When we lose a pig, we respectfully bury them in a dedicated cemetery on the outskirts of the sanctuary.

Northeast field

The Northeast Field was originally built for a handful of pigs who were not faring well in a large field, as they were easily overwhelmed by the noise and activity of a big herd. Their personalities are much better suited to a smaller group and they are flourishing here!

Shakey’s Area

Shakey’s Area is a dedicated section of the East Field for 7 pigs that each have either serious injuries or genetic issues making them susceptible to injury. These pigs are all on the younger side, wanting space to roam but also in need of a small, quiet environment. Shakey’s Area gives them a safe place to share with others in similar physical condition.

Spike’s field

Spike’s Field is one of our medium-sized fields, with about 15 pigs. Most of these pigs are older but still in good condition. Some are a bit shy and like having less competition!

Visitor center backyard

Our Visitor Center along with some of the onsite staff housing have yards for 3-6 pigs. This gives us close access to our elderly pigs and pigs with certain physical disabilities who do best close to us.