Sixteen-year-old high school student Bruno Barba purchased a pig named Lola through the Future Farmers of America (FFA) program at Fullerton Union High School in Fullerton, Calif., and developed a close relationship with it.
"She's changed my life so much and I just haven't been able to look at anything the same anymore," Bruno told The Dodo.
FFA students are fully responsible for taking care of the animals, including feeding and cleaning. After hand-raising them, the animals will be off to slaughter. But that didn't happen for Lola because for Bruno, she is his best friend.
"She's just made a huge impact on me by making me realize that they're just like us," Bruno said of Lola. "They have the same feelings as anyone else and they don't deserve to get slaughtered."
As their relationship deepens, Bruno became more and more depressed about the fates of Lola and the other pigs, which are slaughtered in a lot next to their school with students seeing it.
As for Lola, she is now happy in her new home with lots of grass and mud while endearing the caretakers.
"She loves the caretakers, she loves belly rubs - she's incredibly sweet and friendly," Pell said.
For Bruno, it was bittersweet to leave Lola. However, he was happy knowing that his best friend has found a home and has a happy future.
"I was really happy that she found a new place where she can actually play around," he said. "Of course I wanted to cry. But I didn't because she found a new home where she can be happy."
