A few years ago when Novato resident Shauna Gamble saw a Craigslist ad for piglets, she knew then that she wanted to change how pigs are treated.
“I realized that these pigs were not being sold as pets, but for meat,” says Gamble. “When I saw their little faces in the photos, I just couldn’t stand the thought of them falling into the wrong person’s hands where they’d be treated as ‘things’ to just keep alive until they grow big enough to slaughter.”
Gamble’s passion for pigs grew with the help of Facebook groups, a lot of research and just two piglets of her own, named Pete and Simon. Pete became sick and passed away soon after, and instead of rehoming Simon to a place where he’d again have another companion, Gamble decided to adopt one herself from PigLuvCo.
“I’ve always been a dog person and have worked in animal rescue most of my life, but I had never thought about the need for rescuing other animals aside from the usual dogs and cats,” says Gamble. “Once I got to know Simon and Pete — how intelligent, emotional and silly they are — it really opened my eyes.”
Following Gamble’s experience, Marin Rescue Pigs (MRP) was unofficially born in 2022, but officially took off in June 2025 when it moved to a larger space in June 2025.
A Family Affair
To keep the MRP going, Gamble relies on help from her family. Gamble handles daily care needs like feeding, cleaning and running a produce stand, along with designing and making merchandise. She also runs the group’s social media accounts and handles communications.
Her partner, Spencer, manages the heavy lifting, like moving straw bales or building shelters, and their 2-year-old son, Danny, and her sister Mackenzie love to help as well.
“I love working with my family. They’re my favorite people, so getting to do this together has brought a lot of joy,” Gamble says. “This whole journey has brought us closer and strengthened our bond.”
The family’s little ones are even involved, including Gamble’s son Danny at two-going-on-three years old and her two nephews, Ashton and Micheal at three and five years old.
“I think it’s so important to teach kids about empathy and respect for all creatures, and having them help with simple animal care chores is such a great way to instill those values and life skills,” she says.
At just under 1.5 acres, the new location in Novato allows Marin Rescue Pigs to welcome more animals and ensure a safe haven for the adult pigs it rescues. More space also means fewer squabbles, as limited space can mean the pigs fight more frequently since they’re hierarchical herd animals and conflict can be natural, Gamble explains. Plus, they have more room to walk, root around and graze, which keeps their weight under control and keeps them entertained.
In addition to the pigs the organization has rescued (and are available for adoption), the larger property is also home to a few resident sus — Simon, Rusty, Wallace and Diesel.
Marin Rescue Pigs’ new property is situated with one side of the street categorized as city and the other side as county. Because the location technically falls on the ‘county’ side, and is classified as agricultural, MRP doesn’t have the same cap on number of animals or animal size — just another bonus of the new property.
Don’t Be Shy, Pet a Pig
The initiative has seen an outpouring of community support since moving to their bigger Novato property. Families with children come to pet the pigs through the fence, people now pay a visit while walking their dogs and even a contingent of ‘regulars’ have begun visiting the property.
“One of my favorite parts of what we do is spread joy to people and pigs alike,” says Gamble. “Whether it’s in-person interactions with our animals or by posting something that brightens someone’s day, we really love to make those connections between two species.”
As of publishing this article, Gamble has has four permanent resident pigs, and provides temporary sanctuary for other pigs/piglets, making sure they receive proper medical care necessary to move on to their forever placement.
For those in town that are serious about adopting a pet pig of their own, Gamble notes that the City of Novato allows up to five pets per household, which can include mini pigs — classified as “potbellied pigs” — but at a weight limit. She encourages checking your specific zoning regulations to be sure.
Local excitement about the pigs has also opened a few fundraising opportunities that will go towards the growth of Marin Rescue Pigs. Currently, the initiative sells merchandise (along with an honor-system T-shirt sale rack), a 25 cent pig feed dispenser, a produce stand and a GoFundMe.
While the organization is still in its early stages, Gamble has big plans for what’s to come. She is currently working towards obtaining 501(c)(3) nonprofit status for Marin Rescue Pigs, growing a volunteer base and launching even bigger fundraising ideas.
Visit the pigs at their property located off of Mill Street in Novato — contact them at their Instagram @marincountypigs for more details.
