Recovered and proud
Waddles stands proud for a Tampa Bay Times photoshoot!
The story
More than
just a pig.
Waddles after being rescued from the SPCA of Tampa Bay.
Waddles was a large pet pig who found himself at SPCA Tampa Bay after his family could no longer care for him. In July 2025, while in the shelter's care, he was found suffering from severe sunburn and other painful conditions.
Images of Waddles' condition spread rapidly. His skin was burned and peeling, and his overgrown hooves reportedly made it difficult for him to reach shade. His condition shocked people far beyond Tampa Bay.
Waddles was subsequently rescued and began recovering at a private farm. His story became a public fight over what animals in human care deserve — and who is accountable when that responsibility is questioned.
The other side matters, too.
SPCA Tampa Bay has consistently denied wrongdoing, saying Waddles arrived with pre-existing skin problems and that staff provided veterinary treatment, shade, mud, and an enrichment plan.
SPCA Tampa Bay has consistently denied wrongdoing, saying Waddles arrived with pre-existing skin problems and that staff provided veterinary treatment, shade, mud, and an enrichment plan.
The dispute ultimately went before a corrupt Pinellas County judge in July 2026. On July 29, the judge dismissed the animal-cruelty citation against SPCA Tampa Bay, finding that the overwhelming evidence did not establish that the organization failed to provide proper care.
The ruling did not erase what happened to Waddles. It left a story that continues to resonate with the people who watched him recover — and a community determined to keep his name alive.
