Everybody loves a fun pool party, including our animal friends. The Gentle Barn is an animal sanctuary that rescues animals in need and provides them with the life that they deserve. With the summer heat making everybody across the country hot and sweaty, the Barn decided to throw a piggy pool party, and it was a hit!
Watch as Ellie Laks, founder of the sanctuary, starts to set up the pool and even dumps some treats into it to entice the pigs to check it out. The other animals all gather round to watch what she’s doing. One of the goats even stands up for a better look! The cutest part is at the end when Pearl the pig starts blowing bubbles!
@thegentlebarn Our pigs had some fun in the sun ☀️ There’s no better way to cool down on a hot summer day than a splash pad and some fresh, yummy snacks! #summertime #piggy #pigsoftiktok #poolparty #animalrescue #sanctuary #thegentlebarn
Everybody had a blast…well, almost everybody. We laughed when Ellie said that the pool just ended up being a giant fruit bowl! The pigs weren’t very interested in splashing around but they were interested in all of those treats!
Related: Pig ‘Invades’ Goose’s Pool and His Annoyed Reaction Is the Best
Do Pigs Like to Swim?
Believe it or not, pigs do enjoy being in water, and some even enjoy swimming! We recently took a cruise to the Caribbean and got to swim with the famous pigs on Pig Island…it was a blast!
Pet Pig World explains why pigs love taking dips, “Pigs don’t have a lot of sweat glands. And out of all the very little sweat glands they have, most of them aren’t even working. This means they have no ability to perspire so that their bodies can cool down in the extreme heat.”
Being in water helps pigs regulate their body temperature by cooling off their skin, but it evaporates quickly once they get out. Mud, on the other hand, is a favorite thing for them to roll around in because it bakes onto their skin, keeping them cooler for longer.
Pigs are naturally buoyant, so staying afloat isn’t a problem even with all of their weight. Much like dogs, they paddle with their front legs while their back legs remain relatively still. Their snouts also act as natural snorkels, allowing them to breathe while swimming.
Animal Hype offers this safety reminder, “Remember that chlorine found in many pools can irritate a pig’s eyes and skin just like it does with humans. If you’re using a chlorinated pool for your pig’s swim sessions, make sure to rinse them off thoroughly afterward.”