There is no denying that a pig stuffed animal can compare in all around adorableness to the teddy bear; with its pink plush fur, curly tail and overall pleasing expression, children and even adults find themselves collectors of all things pig related - including the pig stuffed animal.
If you have ever wondered what an animal feels and just how happy they really are, look no further than a 2010 study on pigs conducted by experts from Newcastle University. The School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development have successfully shown that depending on how content a pig is, it will mirror what its mood is like. All that to say, pigs are indeed capable of complex emotions and they are directly influenced how they feel by the conditions they are living in.
In the study, conducted by Dr. Catherine Douglas, researchers set out to determine if pigs were feeling optimistic or pessimistic about life in general based on the way they were living. The pigs were taught to show how they were feeling with the use of a an apple attached to a note on a percussion instrument and a kind of dog training 'clicker' that had something attached to it which was not as pleasant [as the apple] – a rustling paper bag. Half the pigs were put into an environment in which they were given more space to roam and the freedom to both walk and play with 'pig' toys in fresh straw. The other half of the pigs were placed in a smaller area that contained no straw and just one interactive toy. A squeaky noise was then played to see how the pigs would respond.
The pigs living in the better environment took an optimistic approach to the sound they had never heard before and went on to approach it with the expectation they would get the treat (the apple).
The other pigs, living in the area which was not as pleasant, took the opposite approach and were wary of the noise thus did not attempt to come forward for the treat. The reactions of the pigs is similar to the way humans feel and will react when approached with something ambiguous. For example, if your boss calls you into your office on a day when you are feeling particularly stressed and out of sorts, you will likely conclude that you have done something wrong. On the other hand, if your day has been a positive one and you are called into the boss' office, you might think you will be greeted with praise and, even a raise.
The study done on the pigs is part of an ongoing project to understand quality of life for animals on a farm with the intent of improving animal welfare and animal lives in general. One of the United Kingdom's leading experts in pig welfare says the results of this latest study need to be further "refined and validated so it could be used to help scientists determine what is really important to the pig for its well-being."
It goes without saying that any pig stuffed animal you might have in your possession should only ever be treated with the utmost love and care. After all, that pig stuffed animal is likely your most treasured companion and confidante and as is the case, is regarded as no less than a member of the family.
Angeline Hope is a collector of huge stuffed animal toys. You can view a selection of huge stuffed animals including
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