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Meet Piggie Smalls, the Cap'n Crunch-Eating Pot-Bellied Pig

By Janet Upadhye | July 24, 2014 3:31pm
 Piggie Smalls, the Micro Pot-Bellied pig, recently joined the Brooklyn Cares Vet team in Clinton Hill.
Piggie Smalls
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CLINTON HILL — Just call him Notorious P.I.G.

A micro pot-bellied pig who was rescued from neglect in Central Florida, where he lived on a diet of Cap'n crunch and horse feed, recently arrived at his new home in a vet clinic in Clinton Hill.

The 8-pound swine was named Piggie Smalls after late rapper Christopher "Biggie Smalls" Wallace, who grew up one block from the Brooklyn Cares Vet facility at 944 Fulton St.

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Piggie, who is nearly fully grown, arrived in Brooklyn suffering from diverticulitis and two different types of worms.

But after just a couple of weeks in Clinton Hill, Piggie is thriving on a diet of strawberries, green beans and leafy greens. He is also being litter-box trained.

"He still has a few accidents but is almost there," Dr. Timothy Mann said.

Piggie takes baths, chases after the vet's canine customers and snorts happily throughout the day.

"It has been awesome to see the Notorious P.I.G. come out of his shell," Mann said. "Every day he is happier and more social."

Pot bellied pigs are prohibited in homes but allowed in veterinary facilities, according to New York City Health Code.

The 1-year-old currently spends most of his time in the back of the clinic with his older "sister" Ruby the dog. But when he is more comfortable he will be out front in the waiting room, greeting customers.

Customers are also served beer and wine while waiting for their pets at Brooklyn Cares.

In honor of the pig's arrival, Mann is offering $5 off fecal tests.

"Piggie arrived with parasites and they are more common in animals in Brooklyn than owners might think," he said. "Annual fecal checks are extremely important."