Salt pigs to aid of real porkers

A Featherston couple are hoping their character salt pig collection will promote the humane treatment of the animals in real life.

Brenden Saayman and Reanne Tawhara, who run a recycling and sustainable second-hand shop in Featherston called What Goes Around Comes Around, will donate 100 per cent from sales of their salt pigs to SAFE (Save Animals From Exploitation), an organisation against cruelty to factory-farmed animals.

Ms Tawhara said they were given about 100 pottery salt pigs by a friend just before they opened their shop in November.

The pigs were each given a name and initially scattered around the shop, but now visitors walking along Fitzherbert St can see the collection proudly displayed in the window.

People came in on the strength of the window display, she said.

"We weren't sure how they would go.

"But they love it.

"For some people, it's the whole vintage thing."

She said naming the pigs allowed a personal touch.

"When people come in, they say, we will take Harry or Jim."

Salt pigs are mainly used as salt holders but, she said, they can have other uses.

"Our kids use them as money jars, for piggy banks."

She said all the pigs had "characters" and it was interesting to see the pigs people chose.

The couple have photographed new salt pig owners with their adopted pig.

Ms Tawhara reckoned they often suited the person.

She has been asked by SAFE if their support of humane pig farming has jarred with the rural community.

"I don't think so," she said.

"I think people here ... the community is quite forward thinking." The couple hope this will be the first of many fundraisers.

"This was the concept of the shop, to find ways to put back."

You can check out www.whatgoesaround.co.nz or their Facebook page.