In Memory of Jack & Diane

Given just weeks to live, Jack & Diane showed us the power of West Place’s lifesaving care

In 2019, West Place was asked to provide hospice care to a pair of Vietnamese potbellied pigs named Jack & Diane. Seized from a severe neglect case, the 10-year-old pigs had been fed day-old donuts and did not have proper shelter. They were morbidly obese and functionally blind, unable to open their eyelids due to heavy rolls of fat. Jack & Diane were given only a few weeks to live. Never afraid of a challenge, West Place began rehabilitating the pigs with a diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, an exercise regimen, and daily skin care treatments. Even after Jack required emergency surgery for testicular cancer, he never gave up, and neither did we. 

For seven years, Jack & Diane made the most of their second chance at our sanctuary. They freely roamed West Place, entertained and educated us, and enjoyed senior years filled with love, dignity, and respect. Jack was the first to roll over and request a belly rub, and Diane became the Queen of Sanctuary, known for her sweet and sassy personality. Their story of perseverance impacted thousands of visitors and online followers. In January of 2026, we said farewell to Jack after he suffered a medical episode. Only a few months later, Diane was diagnosed with uterine cancer and joined him on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge. Both were 17 years old, and both defied all odds. 

To celebrate their amazing lives, West Place is offering limited-edition T-shirts and hoodies featuring our beloved pigs. The design was created in collaboration with a graphic design student at Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI. Proceeds from every purchase support West Place’s rescue and rehabilitation work, and the daily care of our current pigs—Pickles, Pua, Homer, and Wilbur. 

Thank you for honoring Jack & Diane and keeping their memory alive.