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SFO recruits adorable therapy pig to soothe tense travelers

LiLou, the first known airport therapy pig in the US, joins the ranks of animals dedicated to making travel less stressful. But taking a pig home isn't for everyone.

Stressed travelers at San Francisco's International Airport have an adorable new outlet to sooth tensions: LiLou the pig, the latest addition to SFO's Wag Brigade. Her tricks, personality, and costumes are sure to distract and delight 鈥撀燽ut a pet pig may not be for everyone.

LiLou, a Juliana pig, and her owner, Tatyana Danilova, will be appearing at the airport 鈥撀燼s well as area hospitals and senior centers 鈥撀燼s part of the Animal Assisted therapy program at the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. LiLou has been trained and certified by the San Francisco SPCA to go into public places and interact with visitors, often wearing a vest that reads 鈥淧et Me!鈥 She might wave, stand up on her back hooves, or even play a toy piano for the crowds that assemble to meet her.

鈥淚t鈥檚 wonderful to witness the surprise and delight that LiLou ,鈥 Jennifer Henley, the San Francisco SPCA animal assisted therapy manager, said in a statement.

LiLou is one of more than 300 animal therapy teams in the San Francisco area alone. And therapy animals have become an increasingly common sight at airports across the country. Last May, miniature horses began surprising visitors to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport. They鈥檝e been , USA Today reports.

Because LiLou is so adorable, many of those who meet her may come away dreaming of owning their own pet pig. But potential owners should be aware of the challenges of keeping a pig domestically, owners and sanctuaries say.

When Vietnamese potbellied pigs arrived in US zoos in the mid-1980s, they charmed Americans 鈥撀燼nd private breeders took notice, hoping to by breeding their potbellied pigs with other smaller breeds of pig, and underfeeding them in hopes of keeping them small. But many of these breeders used unscrupulous tactics to convince buyers that the pigs would remain tiny, resulting in thousands of pigs who can no longer be cared for in homes and聽end up in shelters聽as they grow larger. The smallest pig breed 鈥撀燡uliana pigs like LiLou 鈥撀爂row to between 50 and 75 pounds.

Domesticly bred farm animals, like pigs, can be companion animals, but only 鈥渨here they may be kept ,鈥 the ASPCA cautions. Because pigs are so smart 鈥撀爋n par with a two-year-old human, according to the SPCA 鈥 Ms. Danilova had to baby-proof her house to keep聽LiLou from becoming destructive. To cut down on boredom that can lead to destructive behavior, pet pigs also need mental stimulation, which is different from that typically offered pet cats and dogs.

鈥淧ig ownership . While pigs are cute and adorable, they do require extra time, consistent discipline, responsibility, and reasonable guardian expectations,鈥 Danilova told the San Francisco SPCA in an interview.

If owning a pig isn鈥檛 for you, you can still keep up with LiLou! Find her in San Francisco, or follow her adventures on social media. and the hashtag provide regular doses of cuteness.

Other pigs have also taken to social media to , like Esther, whose unexpected growth prompted her owners to establish the .

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