It’s Your Life / People, Places and Things to do. : PIG OUT : Finding New Homes for Little Porkers

In a dog-eat-dog world, swine don’t stand a chance--unless Lil Orphan Hammies steps in.

Lil Orphan Hammies rescues abandoned and abused Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs and puts them up for adoption. Organized in 1991 by Marty Fast of Ojai, the group is based on a five-acre parcel in Solvang, with satellite sanctuaries in Ojai, Agoura Hills and Castaic.

The Lil Hammies have taken in 120 pot-bellied pigs, most of them dumped by owners who thought they were raising cute little piggies that wouldn’t get any bigger than 40 pounds, but wound up with porkers weighing in the low triple digits.

“It’s sad because these pigs are family pets,” Fast said. “They are very intelligent, clean and housebroken. I train dogs--and pigs are smarter. They have great memories.”

Once neutered, pigs are affectionate pets. But pigs that aren’t fixed become problems. Males sprout sharp tusks, along with bad attitudes. Females, gestating every 21 days, are a nightmare of amour.

Non-negotiable rules for free adoptions include: a properly enclosed and equipped pen and pot-bellied pig food that lacks the growth hormones of most feed. A Lil Hammies representative also checks you out to make sure porky won’t be going from the fire into the frying pan or barbecue pit.

With no government assistance, Lil Hammies needs donations of cash, services or goods such as dog kennels, blankets and wading pools.

* Lil Orphan Hammies, 1181 Fredensborg Canyon Road, Solvang; 688-3632, 257-1445 or 646-8349.