-Friday 13th piglets saved from squalor by RSPCA get fresh start at college farm 
-Pigs ‘make the grade’ and are adopted by agricultural college 
-Two piglets rescued by the RSPCA from a tough start in life have officially moved into their new home at Bicton Agricultural College in East Devon. 

The three-month-old sibling pigs - nicknamed Emma and Ellie - are already settling into farm life. The pair got a lucky break on the so-called unlucky date of Friday 13 February when they were found abandoned along a driveway in Glastonbury.

They were taken into the care of one of the RSPCA's livestock boarding establishments and have spent the last month enjoying clean bedding and plenty of good food to ensure they gained healthy weight and got back on their trotters!

Animal Rescue Officer (ARO) Clara Scully, who was first on the scene, described the moment she saw the then starving pigs.

“When I arrived, I was shocked to see the condition they were in, but before I even saw them, I could hear them calling and crying out, letting us know they were starving and desperately seeking help," said Clara. "It's been wonderful to see their transformation over the last few weeks; they are now gaining weight and are full of personality.”

Thanks to the charity’s appeal, Miles Price, Zoo Manager at Bicton College heard about the pigs’ plight and was keen to give them a permanent place at the college, which is set in a beautiful Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Bicton College has rehomed animals from the RSPCA before, including exotic animals and other pigs, and welcomed the pair with open arms into The Animal Zone on the campus, which is home to over 130 different species.

Miles said: "Emma and Ellie have settled into their new homes sharing their new home with our resident Kune Kune Matilda and Vietnamese Pot-Bellied Pigs Dylan and Wallace, previously arriving from the RSPCA.

“Their curious personalities have brightened up our Spring as they arrived with the sunshine bursting through the clouds, Emma and Ellie have quickly become favourites among the staff on the Bicton College Animal Zone.

“Whether it's wallowing, exploring their field, or demanding a scratch behind the ear Emma and Ellie have made Bicton College a home for life where they will be integrated into the curriculum to educate the next generation of industry experts on the intelligent and complex nature of pigs.

“We are excited to watch them grow with our students; they are already getting bigger by the day."Bicton is a specialist land-based college in Devon, offering apprenticeships and T Level training in agriculture, animal care, horticulture and engineering. It was last year labelled "  Outstanding " by the inspectorate Ofsted.

Clara, who is a former student of Bicton, was there to see Emma and Ellie take their first steps into their new home.

“Seeing these sweet pigs, who have already had such a trauma in their short lives, move into a fantastic new home where they’ll be cared for, live in beautiful surroundings with woodland to explore, is so great," said Clara.

"They will be a huge asset, helping students learn how to properly keep pigs and about their needs and welfare. The team at Bicton is fantastic and they do a lot to help us and the animals we’re called to rescue.”

The College is based near Exeter, and set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, just two miles from the Jurassic Coast. The historic Georgian mansion, commercial farm, animal husbandry school, modern veterinary nursing building, world-class engineering and heavy plant machinery workshop, walled garden and arboretum are all set in over 200 hectares of historic parkland.

Sadly, it’s not uncommon for the RSPCA to see worrying levels of animal abandonment and neglect, which unfortunately includes pigs and other farm animals, with reports of animal abandonment reaching their highest point in six years.

The continuing cost of living crisis including rising costs for livestock essentials like bedding and feed supplies, veterinary care, and other essentials have significantly driven up the cost of caring for livestock. This may tragically leave some people feeling they have no choice but to abandon their animals - but dumping an animal is never the answer.

The RSPCA’s Animal Kindness Index also found that pet owners are increasingly worried about being able to afford vet bills and pet insurance. Calls to the RSPCA about abandonment and neglect have risen, and with more people struggling, the charity fears more animals will be dumped by owners who can no longer afford to care for them and do not seek appropriate help.