CHICAGO — This piggy needs a bank.
Wicker Park's celebrity pet pig Porkchop may become a trained therapy pig, but first he needs to find the tuition money.
Caitlyn Isham, the micro pig's owner and a 33-year-old print sales executive, set up a GoFundMe campaign for training costs.
She hopes to raise $2,000 for classes from Your Dog's Guru, so Porkchop can eventually visit hospitals, schools, "or anywhere else people need a smile"
Isham said Porkchop is already a natural at brightening someone's day.
"Whenever I'm in a bad mood, I'm always like, 'Porkchop, let's go for a a walk,'" she said. "It's nice to see the smiles on everyone's faces; it's contagious. He brings so much joy, he's been therapy to me already. It's nice when people are like, 'This totally makes my day.'"
The 2-year-old, 30-pound pig is a celebrity due to his Instagram feed, @Porkchop_Is_Ham, where Isham documents his adventures, including being recently featured on a billboard.
Her pig in a stroller has helped the neighborhood feel more like home, Isham said.
"People will be like, 'Oh, I know Porkchop.' You start to recognize people in the neighborhood as well," she said. "He’s helped Chicago feel a little smaller for me and more homey. I've gotten to know so many people through him."
Take our quiz "Is Porkchop the Pig Having a Better Summer Than You?"
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