A PORKIE pet that was believed to be a micro pig and had to be given up by his previous owner when he grew too big is waiting to be re-homed five years later.

Neville is a cross between a Kune Kune and a Vietnamese pot bellied pig and is said to be exceptionally intelligent.

Indeed, Margaret Green Animal Rescue’s centre in Church Knowle, near Swanage, which took him in in 2015, have had to teach him a variety of tricks to keep him occupied and his brain stimulated.

Neville can sit, spin around and even pass through his trainer’s legs.

When he isn’t showing off, the swine leads a contented life in his pen feasting on monkey nuts and vegetables.

Neville has been at Margaret Green since he was seven-months-old. He lives by himself as previous attempts to introduce other pigs in his pen have not worked out due to his defensive nature.

The centre has been trying to re-home Neville but say there are a number of requirements that need to be met. Anyone looking to adopt Neville must have a large amount of outdoor space as well as a sheltered area to protect against the elements.

The average life expectancy of a Kune Kune pig is between 15 to 20 years meaning he could be with his new owner for more than a decade.

Donna Vincent, his trainer at Margaret Green, said she taught Neville the tricks by using a clicker, similar to teaching a dog.

She said: “Neville was seven months old when he came in.

“Although we would like re-home him we would definitely not encourage people to get a pet pig in the same way they would a dog or cat.

“He’s not there to be petted and the process is a long one.

“Being a pig he needs a dedicated area including at least a small paddock and somewhere to be able to root and graze.

“We’d also have to talk any buyer through his day-to-day routine and what he is like.

“He does really like people but being with other pigs is a no no.

“Ideally he’d go to someone who has kept pigs before or has other pigs that they would be able to keep separate.”

She added: “We taught him the tricks to keep him occupied and stimulated but he doesn’t do them every day. Often we use them as a bribe to get him to do what we want because he can be quite naughty sometimes.”

Anyone interested in giving Neville a new home should contact Margaret Green Animal Rescue.