Christmas cracker Marleythe micro pig is a hit with staff at charity farm

Dec 10 2011 by Alison Rennie, Paisley Daily Express

WORKERS at a busy community farm reckon small is beautiful ... after beingtotally bowled over by a miniature pig.

Marley the micro pig has been taken in by the team at Lamont City Farm, in Erskine, after his owners decided they couldn’t look after him any more.

And the little cutie is making a big impression on everyone at his new home, where he has been welcomed as an early Christmas present.

Marley even boasts a festive moniker as he was named after a character in the classic Dickens tale, A Christmas Carol.

In that story, Marley is Ebenezer Scrooge’s late business partner who returns to him on Christmas Eve to warn that three ghosts will be visiting him and he should take heed of their advice.

Trisha Craig, manager at Lamont City Farm, said: “Marley was an unwanted pet and the family who had him contacted us to ask if we would take him.

“He was good with kids but, apparently, someone in the family had become allergic to him.

“He already had the name Marley, which we thought was quite appropriate since he’s got a new home at Christmas time.

“We aren’t looking for another family to adopt him. I don’t think I’d have very happy staff here if I gave him away!

“Marley hasn’t been here for long but he’s already charmed all of us and has settled in quite happily.”

Trisha said micro pigs – or teacup pigs as they are also known – are getting more and more popular as pets.

David and Victoria Beckham apparently have two and famous socialite Paris Hilton has also been spotted carrying one.

Six-month-old Marley, who was living in Clydebank before arriving at Lamont City Farm, has now made friends with both Vietnamese pot-bellied and Tamworth pigs who were already residents there.

Trisha added: “A lot of people don’t realise that micro pigs can get quite big. They can grow up to 14 inches tall but Marley is definitely the smallest pig on the farm. He’s about the size of one hoof of our Tamworth!

“We’ve never had a micro pig on the farm before and we’d like people to know he’s here so they can come along to meet him.”

Lamont City Farm is based in Barrhill Road, Erskine, and is open from 11am to 3.30pm each day during the winter months. For more information, visit the website at www.lamontfarm.org.uk