A Mother’s Mission: New Dissectible Faux Piglet Offers Kind Science Lessons for Students

For Immediate Release:
August 13, 2026

Contact:
Sara Groves 202-483-7382

 Inspired by her own experience refusing to dissect a fetal pig as a student and later helping her son opt out of a classroom frog dissection, PETA President Tracy Reiman is introducing the Kind Piglet™—a life-like silicone model that replaces real animals in school dissection. It gives kids a hands-on dissection experience—complete with color-coded organs and easy setup and cleanup—without the cruelty, mess, or hazardous chemicals that come with the use of real, preserved piglets. Parents and educators can learn more and place orders here. Samples are available upon request.

The first-ever dissectible classroom pig model addresses a concern many parents share: An estimated 500,000 fetal pigs are used in dissection each year in the United States; some are still alive when cut from their dead mother’s bodies, only to be killed and sold for dissection—a troubling fact for families whose kids love animals. The Kind Piglet is less expensive and safer than the real piglet—welcome news for budget-conscious schools and parents alike. It also doesn’t alienate many young people, especially girls, who have been shown to avoid science fields because they’re teased for their “squeamishness”—meaning more kids can stay curious and confident in their learning.

High school science teachers have been clamoring for a mammalian alternative to fetal pigs and even cats in biology courses, and the Kind Piglet fits the bill. The first-of-its-kind model is already generating news coverage ahead of its classroom debut. Educators have told PETA that “creating models for other body systems, like [mammal organs] would be helpful,” and “I would love if [PETA] made a mammal…because that is the main animal dissection we do at my school and I’d love to replace them with a humane alternative.” 

The project is deeply personal for Reiman. When she was in school, she refused to participate in the dissection of a fetal pig but was forced to watch—an experience that stayed with her. Years later, her own son encountered obstacles when he was told he had to dissect a frog in his science class, but with his mother’s help, he was able to opt out. That moment sparked something: Through PETA’s humane education division, TeachKind Science, Reiman oversaw the creation of the Kind Frog™ to give teachers what they wanted: a hands-on anatomy lesson that lets students learn without cruelty or compromising their values. Now, the Kind Piglet is taking that mission even further. Its launch comes as Reiman marks her first year as president of PETA.

“As a student, I learned firsthand how dissection can leave a lasting impression for all the wrong reasons and even turn students away from careers in science,” says Reiman. “Every student deserves the chance to experience curiosity, not distress, and the Kind Piglet helps make that possible while not harming a hair on an animal’s head.”

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to experiment on”—points out that when it comes to the ability to feel pain, hunger, and fear, a pig is a dog is a boy. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.