Odd Man in Animal Refuge

Amid the hills and history of Jamestown, Tennessee (Mark Twain’s parents lived there many moons ago), there’s a place where pigs rule the roost — well, technically, the pastures, mud wallows, and probably a few humans’ hearts. Welcome to Odd Man Inn Animal Refuge, a sanctuary that’s part rescue, part education center, and entirely devoted to giving pigs (and a few lucky non-pigs) a second chance at life.

Founded by Wendy Smith and her team of dedicated animal lovers, Odd Man Inn isn’t just a retirement home for rescued pigs; it’s about rewriting their stories. From 900-pound gentle giants to mischievous “little” potbellies, every resident has a personality as big as their appetite. Get ready to swoon (swine?) over this sweet story!

How it All Began

The story of Odd Man Inn Animal Refuge begins with a dog named Roswell. That may seem strange, given that the sanctuary is known for its pig rescue, but we’ll get to that later. Co-founder and Executive Director Wendy Smith recalls how Roswell, a black lab with a history of biting and fear-based aggression, changed the course of her life. “They brought him out for me to meet him. He was friendly; he seemed lovely. He was a young lab — a year old, very thin, and full of staph infection. He just seemed frantic and frenzied. I’m an empath by nature, and it tugged at my heartstrings. I was like, ‘I’ll take him.’ And my life was forever changed with that one decision.”

Roswell’s challenges led Wendy, who lived in Portland, Oregon, to purchase a four-acre property in Washington to provide him with a safe environment. The space soon expanded to include other animals. “The next thing we knew, we had 60 animals,” Wendy shares. “I was working full-time as an emergency room nurse and working overtime shifts to cover vet bills.” This passion for rescue and rehabilitation eventually led to Odd Man Inn becoming a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving and advocating for farmed animals.

Cue the pigs.

The Sanctuary Babes: Why Pigs?

Odd Man Inn wasn’t always home to pigs. In fact, after Roswell the pup, there were chickens, goats, a couple of dogs, a goose … “I think we had a llama before we ever had a pig,” says Wendy. She’d never met a pig before, but she was drawn to them. 

“I didn’t want to go my whole life without ever having a pig friend,” she says. “I was a little bit naïve. I wasn’t collecting animals; I was just so curious to learn about all the different species. So, we took in our first pig, Bailey, and she still lives with me today.”

Bailey, a potbelly who had been neglected and left in the high-desert area of Central Oregon without proper shelter or vet care, was fearful, aggressive, and in desperate need of help. That experience opened Wendy’s eyes.

From that moment on, the refuge’s focus expanded. Today, pigs (fondly referred to as “Sanctuary Babes”) make up a significant portion of Odd Man Inn’s residents. “I learned not only how intelligent pigs are, but how clean they are and how much people lie about them,” Wendy tells us. “People make up stories that they’re filthy. We say, ‘Your room is disgusting like a pig lives there,’ and it’s totally the opposite.”

A Sanctuary for the Overlooked

While many people are drawn to wildlife conservation for charismatic species like tigers and elephants, Wendy highlights the cognitive dissonance surrounding farmed animals. “People adore pigs on social media, but at the same time, they consume pork products. This rescue is not just about the animals we take in — it’s about advocating for billions of exploited and abused animals in agriculture.”

The Story of Grace

One of the most poignant rescues at the sanctuary was that of Grace, the first large pig to arrive. She had been exploited for breeding and abandoned after a C-section left her with a severe hernia. “They brought her home, sold her piglets, and didn’t provide her with appropriate medical care after a major abdominal surgery,” Wendy says of the heartbreaking situation. “She ruptured her incision. They put her online as ‘Vet bill is too expensive; will be good enough for dog food.’” 

Wendy nursed Grace back to health and got her the appropriate medical care, including multiple surgeries to fix the hernia. Grace spent years thriving at the sanctuary until she passed away recently from heart failure. “Not only was she my spirit pig, but she also embodies the idea that even though you are broken and discarded and think there’s no hope, we still see so much happiness ahead of you,” Wendy shares. “ We can help and fix you as best we can. We will give you everything we have to offer until it’s time to let you go. And when that time comes, we will do that in a way that is as peaceful as possible. That is Odd Man Inn right there.”

The Reality of Pig Ownership

One of Wendy’s biggest challenges is the widespread misinformation about pigs as pets. “My first recommendation is to visit sanctuaries with pigs,” she says. “Talk to people with pigs. Meet pigs. Look at how pigs should live and how much destruction they can cause. They’re gorilla-strong and move huge, heavy items with their noses. The amount of destruction they can cause if they’re not in the proper environment is incredible.” 

She goes on to say that breeders often mislead people with the ‘mini pig’ myth. “We have 171 pigs, and one yard has 45 pigs that are all ‘mini pigs,’” she says. “For the most part, none of those mini pigs are less than 150 pounds. Mini-pigs are a myth.”

She also warns against keeping pigs with dogs. “If a pig and a dog start to squabble, they don’t speak the same language,” she explains. “One is a prey animal; one is a predatory animal. We have a three-legged, earless pig here named Melvin, who survived a dog attack from a sanctuary that kept dogs with pigs. You would think they’re pig experts, but they had dozens of pigs in a field with dogs. One got mad and attacked Melvin. Not only did he lose his leg, but he lost his ears and almost lost his life. He’s not a one-off; it happens over and over again.”

Another major issue is loneliness. Pigs are herd animals who need companionship. “One of the very first pigs we adopted out to someone was in Washington — a woman who came to me because she had an aggressive pig. He was a big boy; we’re talking 250 pounds. She called him ‘The Land Shark.’ He controlled the backyard, and nobody could go back there because he was so aggressive. She wanted to know what to do about him. I talked her through the different scenarios, then said, ‘The real solution is you need another pig.’ He was lonely and bored; I told her to find him a friend, and the aggression would stop. And it did.”

Educating the Next Generation

Odd Man Inn has launched a humane education program in partnership with LEAP to teach high school students about farm animal welfare. “This is the first year that we are doing this, but we plan to continue it next year,” Wendy says. “There aren’t many programs like this in rural Tennessee.” The sanctuary is also a go-to for other sanctuaries that want to learn more about appropriate animal care — from vaccinations to hoof and tusk care to how Wendy and her team manage such a large herd.

Supporting Odd Man Inn

Running a sanctuary is no small feat. “Vet bills are expensive, and getting in front of the right people is tough with social media algorithms working against us,” Wendy explains.

Supporters can help by donating, volunteering, and spreading awareness. “We allow visitors by appointment. And just like any nonprofit, the biggest thing is having people who are willing to step forward and pledge monthly donations. We do a lot of education on our website and put a lot of work into trying to showcase our work in real-time. We are 100% private donor-funded.”

If you’d like to make a donation to Odd Man Inn, visit oddmaninn.org.