Smithfield, the “Painting Pig,” is undergoing treatment at the University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. His owner, Fran Martin, discovered June 2, that the 10-year-old pot belly pig has a nasal tumor.The pig from Virginia began painting in January 1999. Martin was inspired to teach Smithfield to paint when she ran out of tricks to teach the six-month-old pig because he learned them all too quickly. After learning that dolphins, monkeys and pigs shared an equal level of intelligence, Martin began to have big ideas for Smithfield. “When I saw dolphins painting in Florida, I thought, if it is true that they are equally intelligent, Smithfield could do this,” she said. Smithfield creates his works of art by holding a brush with his mouth and taking it to the canvas. He works solely with non-toxic paints, all checked in triplicate for safety with veterinarians. “They are the same kind of paints that children would use,” Martin said. Smithfield has showcased his talents on television shows such as Live with Regis & Kelly, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, The Planet’s Most Amazing Animals and Virginia Currents, a popular PBS show in Virginia. A clip of the pig performing on Hollywood’s Pet Stars even appeared on an episode of Oprah, Martin said. Of the 19 treatments he is scheduled for, Smithfield has received four. The treatment used on Smithfield is called a linear accelerator, which is one of the veterinary hospital’s treatments for radiating a tumor, David Green, director of college relations at the College of Veterinary Medicine, said.”It is the same type of treatment used for a human,” Green said. “It locates and then marks the tumor, [and] then aims the radiation at the affected area,” Green said. Smithfield suffered from the same type of nasal tumor four years ago. At that time, Martin went to Virginia Tech and was referred to N.C. State’s veterinary hospital because they had the required equipment for radiation. “They have a reputation for the being the best on the east coast. Everyone has done a fabulous job,” Martin said. Smithfield and Fran are staying at the State fairgrounds until the treatment is completed. Martin, a health and PE teacher in Virginia, has started a walk to last until Smithfield is fully recovered as well as to provide a support system for others who may be worried about their pets’ health or even their own health. “If our pets could talk, they would want us in good health too. Smithfield is a brave little oinker; we need to be brave as humans and get healthy too,” Martin said. The walk begins at 8:30 a.m. every day at Gate 5 on the fairgrounds. One of Smithfield’s paintings sold for $1300 and the proceeds went to the MCD Hospital in VA to fund a cancer unit for children. Martin also brings Smithfield to nursing homes to visit the elderly.”Pain just washes away from their faces,” she said. “It’s therapy for them.”After a successful recovery, Fran expects to have Smithfield be a part of the State Fair this year. Paintings and calendars will be sold to fund the cost of Smithfield’s treatment, which will run around $8000. “I love my pig! Why did I end up with a pig as a pet? Why did I end up with a pig that paints? Why did he survive cancer the first time? I ask why and I totally believe there is a purpose and a reason. It doesn’t just happen,” Martin said.