Our Journey to Vegan Sanctuary

About the Founders

Carrie and Ron Shogan co-founded Little OinkBank Pig Sanctuary in March of 2018 when they realized that non-human animals were not a commodity and had the same rights to life, love, and safety as the rest of their family.

With their three kids, Penny, Sarah, and Audrey, along with Carrie's mother, Pam, they have been working to build a safe forever home for animals in need and to educate the public about these incredible Earthlings.

They moved the entire sanctuary from Langley to Oliver, BC in July 2020 to its new, forever home and couldn't be happier.

They are co-writing a graphic novel series about some of the more "colourful" residents, which will be available in 23/24. Carrie is a vegan chef and caterer, whose company Little OinkBakes Catering Co. provides vegan baking and comfort foods to customers in British Columbia, Canada. All proceeds go to the sanctuary.

Our Story

First there was Tilly

It all started with a piglet named Matilda. We loved her to the moon and back, and we did what any good pig parent did: researched with others who knew mini pigs, read up, found a highly recommended vet, and took her in to get spayed. Unfortunately, mini pigs sometimes have very bad reactions to anesthesia. Despite the vet's best efforts, Tilly died.

It was like the air and light left our world. We missed our Tilly every day. Then when the hole in our lives grew bigger than the hole in our hearts, we decided to adopt instead.

The Three Little Pigs

We found a mother and her two daughters in need of a home and they came to us on March 22, 2018. We were so happy when we got Momma, Bear, and SweetPea. They were terrified, but eventually, we had them demanding treats and belly rubs.

What we didn't know was that they came from a breeder who had decided to dump her "stock" and all three were pregnant! Three little pigs became 18 pigs within a month and a half!

Making a Decision

We briefly considered selling the piglets, but through our research, we learned that up to 90% of mini pigs are rehomed, abandoned, or worse. We knew we had to keep them. Momma's eyes told the story of a mother who had experienced baby after baby stolen from her.

It was then we realized that she wanted the same thing that we did: To be safe and together with her family. It was an easy decision then to become a forever home to pigs in need.

Creating a Farm Animal Sanctuary

Since then, we have become a non-profit organization in the province of British Columbia, and we are also a federally registered charity. We are proud to say we are a vegan farm animal sanctuary, providing safety to more than 70 farm animals rescued from abuse, neglect, industry mistreatment, and unethical breeders.

We have also expanded to include full-size pig breeds, cows, chickens, sheep, goats, ducks,, and cats in our herd. We endeavor to teach the public about these incredible Earthlings and encourage everyone to “Make the Connection.”

DEAR TILLY - THE MOVIE
Watch Now: https://youtu.be/6OwtLmi444A

What We Strive For

To promote the welfare of animals for the benefit of the public by rescuing and providing care for stray, abandoned, abused, or surrendered animals; and operating an animal adoption program.

To advance education for the public by providing workshops, seminars, classes, and presentations on animal practices, rescue, and care.

LITTLE OINKBANK PIG SANCTUARY COVID-19 POLICY

Updated February, 2023

IF YOU HAVE BEEN TRAVELLING, REQUIRING QUARANTINE, OR DISPLAY ANY SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19, LITTLE OINKBANK PIG SANCTUARY REQUESTS THAT YOU DO NOT ENTER THE PREMISES FOR ANY REASON.

Little OinkBank Pig Sanctuary requires all volunteers, visitors and workers (human residents and otherwise human workers) to maintain social distancing of a minimum of two meters (six feet).

Little OinkBank Pig Sanctuary has provided two mask stations; one directly inside the door of the shed, and one directly inside the door of the house, where disposable masks are available upon request, as is hand sanitizer, and we ask that all who enter these spaces make use of both. We also have a washroom available with soap and hot water.

Little OinkBank Pig Sanctuary has provided signage in all locations to assist with our requirements and policies.

The safety of all human and non-human animals is our primary concern and we thank you all for your cooperation.

LITTLE OINKBANK PIG SANCTUARY AVIAN FLU POLICY

Updated February 2023

IF YOU HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH ANY FLOCK OF BIRDS, WILD OR OTHERWISE, LITTLE OINKBANK PIG SANCTUARY REQUESTS THAT YOU REFRAIN FROM ENTERING THE PREMISES FOR 48 HOURS.

Little OinkBank Pig Sanctuary requests that all biohazard policies on site are followed, including but not limited to: cleaning footwear with approved solution, restricted access to all avian living areas, no outside animals permitted on the premises.

We take the safety of our avian family very seriously and strive to keep them safe from the ongoing outbreak of avian influenza.

MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

RON SHOGAN - President

Ron Shogan is the President of the LOBPS Board of Directors. He is also the founder and co-owner of the sanctuary, along with his wife Carrie. He considers himself a realist, everyone else thinks he is grumpy according to his wife. Despite this confusion, Ron gets to experience joy every day. He is #1 Pig Dad and mother to four beautiful, not so baby, boy cows who call for him to come rub their noses and give them apples. And he is Dad to 44, no, 48, no 49 pigs. Well, soon to be 55, no 57; there are a lot of them to love. Ron is passionate about diet and works hard to maintain a balance between grain and fresh vegetables and is a soft touch when it comes to doling out fruit treats (especially to bossy chickens). As a result, he has a discerning eye for the product of digestion, well-shaped bellies and firm droppings. Ron looks at a lot of poop.

AMBER TOBIN - Member-At-Large

Amber Tobin, also a new addition to the Board of Directors, is a Mobile Cruelty Free and Vegan Beauty Service based in Vancouver BC. After her first tour of the Little Oink Sanctuary back in April of 2019, she instantly fell in love with all the residents and wanted to do more to help raise funding and awareness. Volunteering to help around the sanctuary was naturally the next step, along with promoting tours for family and friends, starting online fundraisers and creating a give back program within her company, Blended By Amber. She enjoys promoting a Vegan lifestyle through activism, reading, and nature adventures with her Boston Terrier, Taz.

SARAH MAY-SHOGAN - Vice President

Sarah May-Shogan, who has taken on the Vice President role on the Board of Directors this year, is a songwriter and recording artist who lives in Oliver. She is instrumental to helping with the day-to-day running of the sanctuary and assists with many construction and maintenance projects. Sarah has released her EP It Feels Real this past spring and will be releasing her first full-length album in 2021-2022 with the independent label Last Night From Glasgow.

CARRIE SHOGAN - Secretary/Treasurer

Carrie Shogan is the founder and co-owner of LOBPS, along with her husband Ron. She could never understand why she wasn’t strictly a “dog person” or a “cat person” (though she loves them lots) until pigs chose her unequivocally and became her familiars in every way. She spends as much time with them, working for them, advocating for them and teaching others about them as life will allow, and if you try to engage her in conversation, you might as well bring your pig game because things will get awkward very soon otherwise. She is also the chef at Little OinkBakes Catering Co, creating vegan baked goods and comfort food, with all proceeds going to the Sanctuary. She misses the days of pigs in the house more than she will admit, though she is enjoying a non-destroyed living space for a change. She is the Secretary/Treasurer on the LOBPS Board of Directors.

FABIA HOBBS - Member-at-Large

Fabia Hobbs is one of our newest BOD members. She is a fulltime business student. She plans to use the skills she learns in school to support LOBPS through her position on the Board of Directors. Her love for animals is what inspired her to live a vegan lifestyle. She started volunteering at LOBPS to help the animals and the humans who care for them. When she began volunteering she instantly fell in love with the herd and knew she wanted to be a part of their lives forever. She enjoys supporting the animal liberation movement by volunteering for different organizations and participating in various forms of activism.

Little OinkBank Pig Sanctuary