Better Piggies needs rescuing and the call has gone out to Phoenix

Phoenix, Arizona: A Phoenix-based pig rescue is urgently seeking help after a recent monsoon storm caused significant damage to its facilities, leaving the nonprofit organization in a financial crisis.

The storm knocked out the air conditioning unit at Better Piggies Rescue, which cares for 180 pigs, many of whom have special needs and rely on indoor cooling to survive the intense Arizona heat.

Danielle Betterman, the founder of Better Piggies Rescue, described the situation as dire. The A/C unit failure poses an immediate health risk to the pigs, particularly those that cannot go outside due to physical limitations.

"Pigs don't sweat; they need to be nice and cool to be OK in this Arizona heat," Betterman explained. Without the cooling system, the pigs are at serious risk of heat stress.

The rescue has had no choice but to replace the unit at a cost of around $10,000, a financial burden that comes on top of their regular monthly expenses of approximately $10,000 for food, medical care, and shelter.

"Adding $10,000 more onto that is just astronomical. We wouldn't be able to recover from that," said Betterman, highlighting the gravity of the situation.

In response, Better Piggies Rescue is making a public plea for donations to cover the unexpected costs. The nonprofit is asking the community to visit their website and contribute to ensure the pigs continue to receive the care they need.

"We know donations have been tough this year for everybody, but it is something that we definitely need to survive," said Betterman.