Benny’s Story
Benny came to Luvin Arms in September 2026 after surviving a fall or jump from a livestock transport truck in Colorado. At about six months old, the Aurora Police Department found him and eventually brought him into shelter care before he made his way to the sanctuary.
When Benny arrived, his body carried visible signs of the industry he came from. His ears were notched, a yellow grease mark ran along his back, and an ear tag identified him simply as 307. While we cannot know everything Benny experienced before he was found, markings like these are commonly used in commercial animal agriculture to identify and manage animals as they move through the production system.
Here, he needed something different. He needed a name.
We chose Benedict, or Benny for short, meaning “blessing.” He is black and white, with a little tongue that frequently hangs from the side of his mouth and immediately reminded many of us of Felix, one of Luvin Arms’ longtime pig residents.
Because we had no medical or vaccination history for Benny, his first weeks at Luvin Arms focused on making sure he was healthy and giving him time to safely settle into sanctuary life. He received a complete veterinary assessment, vaccinations, and testing before meeting other residents.
Like most pigs raised for food, Benny could have been slaughtered at approximately six months old, despite having the potential to live for well over a decade. Instead, around the age when his life might otherwise have ended, Benny began an entirely different one.
Today, Benny can build relationships, explore his surroundings, make choices, and continue showing us exactly who he is. At Luvin Arms, he is no longer a number on an ear tag. He is Benny, an individual whose needs, preferences, relationships, and life matter.
And this time, his future belongs to him.
