KENNEBUNK – It seems there’s nothing Momma pig, and her piglet, enjoy more than a juicy slice of watermelon – rind and all. It is a cool treat after a warm morning snoozing in the sunshine, wallowing in a muddy puddle, and rooting around, checking out various corners of the fenced outdoor space at the Animal Welfare Society in West Kennebunk.

Momma and her baby are the last two pot-bellied pigs of a herd of three adults and five piglets that were surrendered at AWS on July 3. All of the pigs were in foster care for a while, but arrived back at AWS ready for adoption, not long ago.

Two adult males and four piglets were recently adopted,  leaving just the mother and one piglet, the runt of the litter, without a permanent home.

Make no mistake, these pigs are pets – house pets, said AWS spokeswoman Stephanie Kelley – though a barn would be good home for them, too.

The pigs can be litter box trained or housebroken, much in the same way as a puppy, said animal care technician Jasmine Roy, who was caring for the mother and her piglet in a fenced-in, outdoor area at AWS on Tuesday afternoon.

The mother and the little one are pot-bellied pigs – mini pigs, really, said Kelley.

“They’re becoming more common as pets,” said Kelley. “They’re very dog-like.”

Like most pigs, she said, they enjoy rooting around and taking mud baths.

“Mom especially enjoys lying around and soaking herself with mud, with her little shadow Piglet not far away,” said Kelley. “Thus, they definitely should have a home with access to muddy pools and outdoor space.”

Roy said the pigs enjoy grain in the morning, and then dine on lettuce and other greens, corn on the cob, blueberries and more.

“They love their vegetables,” she said.

Besides watermelon as a treat, they are particularly fond of Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pies, Kelley added.

Kelley and Roy have noticed that the pigs have become more social in recent days, and when a guest walks into the pen, they amble over, with their tails wagging, for a look.

According to the North American Pet Pig Association, a pot-bellied pig can tip the scales at 200 pounds at full weight, but fully grown pigs generally weigh between 90 and 150 pounds.

Their lifespan is about 12 to 15 years.

AWS is looking for an adopter willing to take both pigs. The adoption fee is $150.

To learn more, visit https://animalwelfaresociety.org/adoption/barnyard-animals/.

If the pig photos are online, they’re still available, said Kelley.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 780-9016 or twells@journaltribune.com.