For nearly five years pig ‘473' was just another breeding sow serving the needs of a pig farmer. Twice a year her piglets were taken away to become bacon or ham. 473's life was monotonous, cruel and deprived. Then along came a dream come true in the form of Carolyn Press-McKenzie. 

The co-founder of Pakuratahi Farm Animal Sanctuary, Carolyn agreed to save a sow from certain death for the current affairs programme Sunday. Carolyn says choosing pig ‘473' out of the group was emotional but is delighted Piggy Sue, as she is now called, has recovered to become one very happy pig.

Piggy Sue now has a huge fan club. The Sunday programme profiled me liberating a very sad and lifeless sow from a factory farm. It was terrible to know Piggy, as I like to call her, was facing certain death. It was even more gut-wrenching to leave the other pigs destined to be killed, as I could only save one pig. For Piggy, it surely must have been a dream come true.

Although we were warned by the pig farmers that sows reared in factory farms could not cope with living outdoors, Piggy's new life has obviously bought her much joy. Watching Piggy sniff and feel the grass for the very first time after her repressed years of life was extremely emotional. Though stiff and awkward from being caged for most of her life, Piggy wasted no time wandering around her lush grassy paddock, stopping to scratch against everything in her path. As my partner Jim renovated Piggy's new shelter, Piggy diligently followed him back and forth across the paddock until the last plank was nailed.

When she arrived she was covered in scars and pressure sores and looked unnaturally hairless and pink. Since arriving to the sanctuary Piggy's legs have strengthened and she has grown a wonderful coat of bristly hair. She burrows contently in straw each night with her new-found companion, a Captain Cook pig called Willmar.

We have been overwhelmed by her gentle and sincere personality and by how she meets every new experience with delight and curiosity. Piggy's first experience of a rainy day was delightful. She halted at the very first drop, put her snout up in the air and stood for a moment before launching into a series of frisky gallops and pig jumps. It was such a joy to watch.

As Piggy blossoms she becomes even more playful and curious. We are so proud of her progress given her first five years were spent in a tiny crate. In fact Jim and I are dumbfounded by how quickly she has adjusted to her freedom. It is a stark reminder of how innately clever and resilient pigs are. It also shows pigs will flourish when given a safe and enriched natural environment.

I can't imagine how she kept her sanity as a prisoner for so many years, not to mention that she was continually kept pregnant and gave birth to litter upon litter of piglets in such cruel conditions.

The look in Piggy's eyes is one of great depth and although outwardly the scars are healing, there is still sadness. Our only hope is that each and every New Zealander is inspired by Piggy Sue's story and takes a stand against pig cruelty.

SAFE is sponsoring Piggy Sue's on-going care and veterinary costs.

WATCH PIGGY SUE'S RESCUE FROM HELL

Click here to watch the Sunday programme of how Carolyn cunningly liberates Piggy Sue.

Enroute to freedom!

First sniff of grass!

Lifetime of abuse

This is how pig '473' would have spent the majority of her 5 years of life - inside a pig crate biting bars!

Click here to find out more about Carolyn's work at her sanctuary.