Thunder and Bolt

{{Short description|Therapy pigs}}

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Thunder and Bolt (born March 2, 2017){{cite web|url=https://www.thunderboltpigs.com/|title=Thunder Bolt Pigs|access-date=June 4, 2023}} are a pair of miniature pigs certified by the American Mini Pig Association as therapy animals{{Cite web|date=2018-03-16|title=Tampa girl trains pigs to bring people happiness|url=https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-tampa/tampa-girl-trains-pigs-to-bring-people-happiness|access-date=2021-01-30|website=WFTS|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Therapy Pigs Thunder and Bolt Are Happy to Trade Belly Scratches and Hugs for Smiles|url=https://people.com/pets/therapy-pigs-thunder-and-bolt-tampa-hospital/|access-date=2020-12-24|website=PEOPLE.com|language=EN|archive-date=2024-01-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114121339/https://people.com/pets/therapy-pigs-thunder-and-bolt-tampa-hospital/|url-status=live}} owned and trained by then 10-year-old Claire Barrow.{{Cite web|date=2018-02-02|title=Thunder and Bolt are therapy pigs with a purpose|url=https://www.fox13news.com/good-day-tampa-bay/thunder-and-bolt-are-therapy-pigs-with-a-purpose|access-date=2020-12-24|website=FOX 13 Tampa Bay|language=en-US|archive-date=2024-01-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114121243/https://www.fox13news.com/good-day-tampa-bay/thunder-and-bolt-are-therapy-pigs-with-a-purpose|url-status=live}}

Thunder and Bolt made their therapy animal debut at Tampa General Hospital{{Cite web|title=Pigs can be therapy animals too. So can horses and rats and cats and llamas and … (w/video)|url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/health/Pigs-can-be-therapy-animals-too-So-can-horses-and-rats-and-cats-and-llamas-and-w-video-_163632628/|access-date=2021-01-23|website=Tampa Bay Times|language=en|archive-date=2024-01-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114121339/https://www.tampabay.com/news/health/Pigs-can-be-therapy-animals-too-So-can-horses-and-rats-and-cats-and-llamas-and-w-video-_163632628/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=2017-12-16|title=Hospital introduces therapy pigs|url=https://www.cbs17.com/news/hospital-introduces-therapy-pigs/|access-date=2021-01-23|website=CBS17.com|language=en-US|archive-date=2024-01-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114121347/https://www.cbs17.com/news/hospital-introduces-therapy-pigs/|url-status=live}} when they were 10 months old,{{Cite web|title=Therapy Pigs Bring Holiday Cheer, Back Scratchers and a Whole Lot of Cute to Florida Hospital|url=https://people.com/pets/therapy-pigs-thunder-bolt-tampa-hospital/|access-date=2021-01-23|website=PEOPLE.com|language=EN|archive-date=2024-01-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114121345/https://people.com/pets/therapy-pigs-thunder-bolt-tampa-hospital/|url-status=live}} where they celebrated their first birthday with patients from adult rehabilitation and children's medical center patients.{{Cite web|date=2018-03-02|title=Therapy pigs Thunder and Bolt celebrate 1st birthday with TGH patients|url=https://www.wfla.com/news/hillsborough-county/therapy-pigs-thunder-and-bolt-celebrate-1st-birthday-with-tgh-patients/|access-date=2020-12-24|website=WFLA|language=en-US|archive-date=2024-01-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114121345/https://www.wfla.com/news/hillsborough-county/therapy-pigs-thunder-and-bolt-celebrate-1st-birthday-with-tgh-patients/|url-status=live}} Thunder and Bolt are the first therapy pigs at the hospital, where Barrow is also their first youth volunteer.

The pigs, approximately 75 lbs as adults, are taken to various local nursing homes and hospitals to perform their therapy duties. They also made an appearance during a Tampa Bay Lightning hockey game.{{Cite web|date=2020-09-22|title=Catching up with hockey-loving pigs, Thunder and Bolt|url=https://www.wfla.com/community/health/coronavirus/something-good/catching-up-with-hockey-loving-pigs-thunder-and-bolt/|access-date=2020-12-24|website=WFLA|language=en-US|archive-date=2024-01-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114122344/https://www.wfla.com/community/health/coronavirus/something-good/catching-up-with-hockey-loving-pigs-thunder-and-bolt/|url-status=live}}

The pigs have their own website and social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and YouTube channel, and have aired on WTSP 10's Great Day Tampa{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=2017-10-09|title=Great Day Tampa|work=10News WTSP|publisher=|url=https://www.wtsp.com/video/features/thunder-bolt-pigs/67-2754304|access-date=}} and Q105{{Cite web|date=2018-04-18|title=Video: Meet Thunder And Bolt The Therapy Pigs|url=https://myq105.com/2018/04/18/video-meet-thunder-bolt-therapy-pigs/|access-date=2021-01-23|website=Q105|language=en}} and featured on People.{{Cite web|title=Celebrate National Therapy Animal Day with Llamas, Rats and Other Non-Traditional Therapy Pets|url=https://people.com/pets/national-therapy-animal-day-pets/|access-date=2021-01-23|website=PEOPLE.com|language=EN|archive-date=2024-01-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114122246/https://people.com/pets/national-therapy-animal-day-pets/|url-status=live}}