Updated | Monday 7 July 2025

Very sad news. Our sweet, gentle, beautiful Oink gently passed away yesterday after eleven wonderful years at Where Pigs Fly. Oink arrived as an 18-month-old calf in November 2014. Born blind, she was raised as part of a local school’s “paddock to plate” programme. Her blindness ultimately saved her life, as the students didn’t want to send her to slaughter. We took her in. We had no idea just how profoundly Oink would change our lives, or how many hearts she’d capture along the way.

Blind since birth, Oink never once let that stop her. She was the queen of gentle bumps, food-finding and surprise encounters with volunteers’ pockets (always hopeful they were hiding treats). Her blindness taught us about trust, kindness and patience in ways we never anticipated. Oink especially loved oranges, and despite her blindness, she always seemed to know there was one more orange hidden in a volunteer’s pocket.

As one of WPF’S founding ambassadors, Oink opened hearts and minds influencing many towards a cruelty-free lifestyle. She had a rare and beautiful talent for turning everyone she met into a lifelong fan. She was one of life’s truly precious souls. We are all heartbroken here but also deeply thankful knowing she lived the kind of life every animal deserves: surrounded by love and kindness. Oink had the chance to grow old, an opportunity most farmed animals sadly never receive.

Thank you for being you, Oink. You’ve left a huge hole in our hearts and an emptiness in “Oinky’s paddock.” Your mission will continue. We will continue to work hard towards a kinder world for all animals – a world you can be proud of. Oink was someone, not something. Rest easy, beautiful girl.

Rescue date: November 2014