Higbee, MO — Most people have a herding dog, but for the Lenz family, it’s more like a herding hog.
Lindsay and Curt Lenz own a farm in Higbee, and their one-and-a-half-year-old pig, Possum, has taken on the role of herding sheep.
Lindsay said she first noticed Possum’s love for herding after he was placed in a time-out after getting in trouble.
“He got in trouble one day for getting into the feed cans in the shop, and so we locked him in with the herd. They were out in their expansion, and later that afternoon I looked up, and the sheep were running in a straight line to the gate, and he was on their heels herding them in,” added Lindsay.
Ever since that day, Lindsay said Possum has become their sheep’s unlikely protector and even went viral on TikTok after the couple shared a video of his unique talent,
The videos gained him a following, but his biggest heroic act cost him an ear.
“ I came out that morning, and I heard the dogs barking and heard the pigs squealing and saw Possum with dogs attacking him in our pasture, ” stated Curt.
According to the couple, it was the first time the family had experienced roaming dogs attacking their livestock.
They said that Possum fought off the dogs but was left with severe injuries, including several bites across his body, and the worst injury was a torn ear.
“His ear cartilage was completely ripped off, which the veterinarian said takes an amazing amount of force,” explained Lindsay.
Possum’s medical bills are nearly $20,000, but thanks to his TikTok fans, donations have poured in to help cover his treatment.
However, Lindsay said that Possum isn’t quite himself yet, but he’s resilient and is on a long road to recovery.
“I think it knocked his confidence down a little bit, and I mean that’s a huge trauma he’s experienced. It will take him some time to fully get over that. We’re both veterans, so we understand traumas,” explained Lindsay.
However, Lindsay allows the Possum to spend a few hours each day with his sheep while he continues to recover.
“For some reason, he loves them. We don’t know if he thinks he’s a sheep, a goat, or a dog protecting the sheep and goats. We never intended for him to be a herd guardian. I mean, he likes to herd the animals, but we never thought he was going to protect them. That’s not something you expect a pig to do,” shared Lindsay.
The couple said Possum will need long-term care to prevent infections. They are working with a friend to 3D print a small prosthetic ear so the herding hog can get back to his daily life.
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