A pair of pigs who suffered from burned skin and cuts at an animal testing lab are now living happy lives on a rescue farm where they spend their days playing in the mud and greeting animal-lovers.
Albert and Mendel, three, were born at a research facility where rescuers believe skincare products were tested on them.
The brothers spent ten months being poked and prodded in captivity and had never set foot in the outside world.
Tested: Albert and Mendel, three, were born at a research facility where rescuers believe skincare products were tested on them
Poked and prodded: The brothers spent ten months being poked and prodded in captivity and had never set foot in the outside world
Luckily, the animal testing facility where Albert and Mendel spent their early months, released the pigs into the care of the Rescue and Freedom Project.
The project, based in West Hollywood, rescues lab animals that would otherwise be put down at the end of an experiment.
The pigs were placed into the care of vegan farmers Nick O’Neill, 28 and his wife Rachael, 28, who run 2nd Street Hooligans Rescue in Norco, California.
Nick said: ‘When we took them in it was very clear that they had never been outside. They were so skittish.’
Lucky: Luckily, the animal testing facility where Albert and Mendel spent their early months, released the pigs into the care of the Rescue and Freedom Project
‘It was scary for them. It was obvious that they had been used in some kind of skin testing because they both had mild burns and cuts on their skin.’
‘We made sure to give them their own area to make them feel as secure as possible.’
‘For a few days they just didn’t come out of their shelter, which was really sad, you know?’
‘But one day Albert just got the courage and went outside to throw himself into one of the plastic pools we have for them.’
‘He was like a new pig splashing around outside. It was wonderful.’
Albert and Mendel, who weigh a combined 270lbs and spend most of their time together, are just two of 26 rescued animals who inhabit the farm, including their swine friends Remy and Beyoinkce.
Saving lives: The project, based in West Hollywood, rescues lab animals that would otherwise be put down at the end of an experiment
Good Samaritan: The pigs were placed into the care of vegan farmers Nick O’Neill, 28 and his wife Rachael, 28, who run 2nd Street Hooligans Rescue in Norco, California (pictured)
‘We have two other rescue pigs Remy and a girl pig Beyoinkce who they all love,’ Nick said.
Nick, who works in telecommunications, and Rachael, a registered dietician, run the farm in their spare time and hope their project will help raise awareness about the realities of animal testing.
Nick said: ‘We have 26 rescue animals on this farm – pigs, goats, rabbits, turkeys, chickens, sheep and dogs. The pigs have been with us now for pretty close to two years.’
‘We love having them on our rescue farm and hope that by sharing their story we can raise awareness about animal testing.’
Awareness: Nick, who works in telecommunications, and Rachael, a registered dietician, hope their project will help raise awareness about the realities of animal testing
Unneeded: Nick said he wants people to realize that ‘you don’t need to use products that have been tested on animals’
‘I guess what we want people to realize through our work on this little farm is that you don’t need to use products that have been tested on animals, it’s such an easy change.’
‘Albert and Mendel are lucky they were released but for so many other animals they never get out, which is the saddest thing.’
Shannon Keith, who is president and founder of the Rescue and Freedom Project, said it is unclear exactly what the pigs endured at the lab.
She said: ‘We often have to sign confidentiality agreements in order to just get these animals out.’
‘We don’t know what kind of testing they were used for exactly, but we suspect skin testing because they had some burns and abrasions on their skin.’