Hype Press Limited

By Jessica Smith

Gayla Thompson (33) from Nashville, USA, says finalising her divorce was the moment she finally decided to do something just for herself, and that meant buying the animal she’d wanted since she was a little girl. 

In November 2025, Gayla welcomed eight-week-old Daisy into her home, a tiny nine-pound piglet who would quickly grow into the centre of her world. She’s now planning to build a mini farm, which she hopes will give her the fairytale ending her marriage never did.

“I traded one pig for another,” Gayla says with a smirk.

“My ex-husband always told me I couldn’t have a pet pig.

“So when the divorce was settled, getting my dream pig was the best way to start my new life.”

Now almost four months old and weighing 50lbs, Daisy has her own bed, toys, litter box, weekly car rides, and even a regular order at the local drive-through.

“It’s not every day you see a pig on a leash at the store,” Gayla laughs.

“She’s very well known at the pet store. All the employees love her; she’s part of the clean-up crew in every aisle.”

After every shopping trip, Daisy is treated to a ‘pup cup’ at Sonic, where staff now recognise her on sight.

Despite raised eyebrows from strangers, Gayla says her family weren’t surprised in the slightest.

“You know the movie Charlotte’s Web? I’m the little girl in that movie,” she says.

“I was always rescuing baby birds and rehabilitating them. An indoor pet pig is nothing short of expected from me.”

Gayla has previously owned large dog breeds, including English Mastiffs and Great Danes, and even ran what she describes as a ‘mini rescue’ for senior dogs.

But Daisy presented new challenges.

“At about three months old, she realised she could open cabinets and pull everything out,” she admits.

“And pigs naturally root, so I had to baby-proof everything and protect my carpet.”

Still, she insists Daisy has been ‘extremely easy’ to care for.

“She only goes potty in her litter box. Pigs are actually very clean animals; people don’t know that.”

Daisy’s daily menu includes grain pellets twice a day, with lettuce and Cheerios as her favourite treats.

“She couldn’t care less about broccoli or bananas,” Gayla laughs.

For the first few winter months, Daisy cost around $50 a month to care for. Once she moves permanently outdoors this week into a purpose-built pig pen, Gayla expects costs to drop to around $20 a month.

“Pigs are great for leftovers,” she says. 

“I actually waste less food now.”

The biggest change in Gayla’s life, however, isn’t just Daisy; it’s the fresh start she represents.

Her new partner has embraced the dream wholeheartedly, helping transport Daisy every weekend to his larger country property so she could roam and root freely.

“We’re moving in together and building them a beautiful pig pen,” Gayla says.

The couple have even added a second pig, a baby boy named Dude, with plans to expand into a small hobby farm with chickens and possibly a donkey this summer.

“It’s a beautiful new journey with a new partner,” she says.

Her children have also fallen head over heels for Daisy, especially her four-year-old, who has already taught the pig to spin for treats.

“Their favourite thing is chasing each other around the house,” Gayla says.

“I never knew pigs could run so fast or jump!”

Although Gayla still eats meat, she admits there was one awkward moment early on.

“The first week I had her, I was cooking bacon, and she walked in,” she says.

“I felt so guilty I threw it away.”

But she insists loving Daisy doesn’t require her to change her entire diet.

“She’s a companion animal. It just means I’m responsible for caring for her.”

And for anyone wondering, Daisy is strictly a forever pet.

“She will never be butchered or sold,” Gayla says firmly.

“She’ll be buried in our backyard when her time comes.”

From sleeping in Gayla’s bathroom as a tiny piglet to now preparing for life on a mini farm, Daisy’s journey mirrors her owner’s own new chapter; one built on independence, healing, and finally choosing herself.

“Daisy is 100% a princess,” Gayla says.

“She’s treated just like my kids. Her meals are warmed and soaked into a mushy feast.”

After a decade of compromise, Gayla says one thing is certain:

“This is my dream. And I’m finally living it.”