A Tennessee woman has taken an unusual approach to starting over after her divorce, trading a decade-long marriage for a new life centered around an unexpected companion: a pet pig.
Gayla Thompson, 33, of Nashville, says adopting a pig named Daisy was one of the first things she wanted to do after ending her 10-year marriage.
Her former husband had reportedly opposed the idea of owning a pet pig, leaving Thompson unable to pursue something she had wanted for years.
But once the divorce was finalized, she decided it was time to make that dream a reality.
“I traded one pig for another,” Thompson joked.
In November 2025, she welcomed Daisy, an eight-week-old piglet weighing just nine pounds, into her home.
The decision marked a fresh beginning for Thompson, who was determined to embrace the things she had previously been unable to enjoy.
“My ex-husband always told me I couldn’t have a pet pig,” she explained.
“So when the divorce was settled, getting my dream pig was the best way to start my new life.”
What began as a personal celebration quickly developed into an entirely new lifestyle.
Daisy has become the center of Thompson’s household, complete with her own bed, toys and litter box.
The pig has grown considerably since arriving as a tiny piglet, reaching a reported weight of 50 pounds.
Unlike traditional household pets, Daisy also accompanies her owner on shopping trips, attracting attention wherever she goes.
Thompson says her unusual companion has become particularly popular at a local pet store, where employees recognize her immediately.
“It’s not every day you see a pig on a leash at the store,” she said.
“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.”
The attention does not stop there.
Daisy is also a familiar visitor at Sonic, where employees reportedly recognize the pig and occasionally treat her to a “pup cup.”
Although strangers sometimes react with surprise, Thompson says her family was hardly shocked by her decision.
She has been passionate about animals since childhood, frequently helping injured creatures recover.
Drawing a comparison to the beloved children’s story Charlotte’s Web, Thompson explained that caring for animals has always been part of her personality.
“You know the movie Charlotte’s Web? I’m the little girl in that movie,” she said.
“I was always rescuing baby birds and rehabilitating them. An indoor pet pig is nothing short of expected from me.”
Thompson previously owned large dogs, including English Mastiffs and Great Danes, but discovered that raising a pig presented an entirely different set of challenges, per the New York Post.
Daisy quickly demonstrated an impressive ability to explore her surroundings, sometimes creating considerable chaos around the house.
“At about three months old, she realized she could open cabinets and pull everything out,” Thompson recalled.
“And pigs naturally root, so I had to baby-proof everything and protect my carpet.”
Despite those adjustments, Thompson insists that caring for Daisy has been surprisingly manageable.
She also challenged the widespread perception that pigs are inherently dirty animals.
“She only goes potty in her litter box,” Thompson explained.
“Pigs are actually very clean animals; people don’t know that.”
The financial demands have also been relatively modest, according to Thompson.
She estimated that Daisy initially cost approximately $50 per month to care for during the winter.
Once the pig moves into a specially constructed outdoor enclosure, Thompson expects monthly expenses to fall to around $20.
Daisy’s daily meals generally consist of grain pellets, while lettuce and Cheerios serve as favorite treats.
Thompson says the pig has even helped reduce household food waste.
“Pigs are great for leftovers,” she explained. “I actually waste less food now.”
But perhaps the most significant development in Thompson’s new life has been finding someone who shares her enthusiasm for animals.
She has entered a new relationship with a partner who fully supports her dream of creating a small farm.
The couple plans to move in together and construct a dedicated enclosure for Daisy on his larger country property.
Her new partner already helps transport Daisy to the property on weekends, giving the pig more space to roam and root.
The couple has also expanded their animal family by welcoming another pig named Dude.
Their plans do not end there.
Thompson hopes to establish a hobby farm featuring additional animals, potentially including chickens and a donkey.
For a woman whose previous marriage prevented her from owning the animal she had always wanted, the changes represent more than simply adopting an unusual pet.
Thompson now has a new relationship, two pigs and plans to build the countryside lifestyle she once imagined.
Rather than regretting the direction her life has taken, she says the experience has given her a renewed sense of happiness and purpose.
“It’s a beautiful new journey with a new partner,” Thompson said. “This is my dream. And I’m finally living it.”
