When the ink dried on her divorce papers, Gayla Thompson adopted the animal companion she'd always wanted: a pet pig.
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Speaking with the New York Post, Thompson, of Nashville, said her ex-husband never wanted pets in the home during their decade of marriage.
Shortly after the split, Thompson adopted a two-month-old piglet named Daisy, a decision she claims brought immense joy.
"My ex-husband always told me I couldn't have a pet pig," Thompson told The Post. "So when the divorce was settled, getting my dream pig was the best way to start my new life."
Thompson said she has loved and cared for animals since she was a kid.
"You know the movie Charlotte's Web? I'm the little girl in that movie," Thompson told the outlet. "I was always rescuing baby birds and rehabilitating them. An indoor pet pig is nothing short of expected of me."
Thompson's pet piglet Daisy, now four months old, has a more robust 50-pound frame and a laundry list of needs, including a bed, litter box and, naturally, toys.
The pink, fuzzy mammal has become a favorite at her local pet store.
"It's not every day you see a pig on a leash at the store," Thompson said. "She's very well known at the pet store. All the employees love her; she's part of the clean-up crew in every aisle."
Thompson said that despite pigs' reputation for rolling in mud, Daisy has been easy to clean and care for.
"She only goes potty in her litter box. Pigs are actually very clean animals; people don't know that."
The Nashville piglet owner said that she spends roughly $50 a month on Daisy's expenses, but noted that figure could drop in the winter months.
For Thompson, Daisy is the first member of what she hopes becomes an animal farm with various species.
Along with her new partner, Thompson adopted a second pig named Dude. The couple is considering adding chickens and a donkey this summer, per the New York Post.
"It's a beautiful new journey with a new partner," the animal lover said. "This is my dream. And I'm finally living it."
