World record-setting social media star will appear Thursday as All Creatures Veterinary Emergency Clinic celebrates anniversary with ribbon cutting with refreshments, games, photo opportunities and more
A world record-setting pig with a personality big enough for the internet is coming to Folsom this week as All Creatures Veterinary Emergency Clinic celebrates its next chapter with a community ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday, June 4.
Merlin the Talking Pig, a social media sensation known for communicating with his family through sound buttons, will be one of the featured guests at the celebration, giving local animal lovers another reason to stop by the Folsom clinic for an afternoon centered on compassion, community and animal care.
The event will take place at All Creatures Veterinary Emergency Clinic, located at 2210 E. Bidwell St., Suite 100, in Folsom. The celebration begins at 4 p.m., with the official ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for 5 p.m. The event continues until 6:30 p.m.
Billed under the theme “Celebrating compassion. Community. Life,” the ribbon cutting marks a milestone for the veterinary emergency clinic as it continues its mission of saving animals and serving the community. The public is invited to attend, with families, friends and animal lovers all welcome.
For many guests, Merlin may be the first attraction. The potbellied pig has built a national following through videos showing him using a series of colorful buttons to communicate with his owner, Mina Alali, and their family. According to Guinness World Records, Merlin uses 25 buttons to express wants, needs and emotions, with words and phrases ranging from simple responses to food requests and playful expressions.
Merlin’s online popularity has also earned him a place in the record books. Guinness World Records reported earlier this year that Merlin broke the record for the most followers on Instagram for a pig after reaching 1.1 million followers on the app. His videos have helped turn him into a recognizable animal personality, with his button communication, expressive reactions and daily routines drawing a large audience of fans.
Merlin is an 180-pound potbellied pig who was adopted in March 2022 by Alali, who began training him when he was just 2.5 months old. Those early lessons helped shape the button communication that has since made Merlin unusual even among highly social animals, with his videos showing how repetition, patience and daily interaction became part of his routine.
Beyond the buttons, Merlin has become known for a personality that often comes through like a family dog with a stubborn streak. He is leash trained, enjoys walks, cuddles with Alali and uses an “outside” button when he needs to go out or wants to play. His videos often show both his intelligence and his attitude, including moments when he asks for more snacks, protests when he does not get what he wants or makes his feelings known through buttons such as “I’m mad.”
His appearance at Thursday’s ribbon cutting brings a lighthearted and family-friendly element to an event rooted in a broader message about animal care. Merlin is also a Certified Therapy Pig through the American Mini Pig Association, adding another layer to his public appearances and the attention he has brought to the intelligence and emotional range of pigs.
The celebration also comes as All Creatures Veterinary Emergency Clinic continues building its presence in Folsom under the leadership of Dr. Richard “Rick” Turner, a UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine graduate who has spent more than 46 years practicing veterinary medicine.
Turner’s approach to emergency veterinary care is rooted in the belief that cost should not be the first factor determining whether an animal survives when treatment is medically possible. He has built All Creatures around a philosophy of exploring treatment options before families are forced into life-or-death decisions driven by finances, particularly in emergency situations when pet owners are often facing both emotional and financial stress.
The Folsom clinic is an extension of that work, bringing independently operated emergency veterinary care closer to local families while serving dogs, cats and a wide range of other animals. Turner’s experience has extended beyond traditional companion animals over the years, including exotic species, shelter animals and complex emergency cases that often require fast decisions and immediate diagnostic support.
At the Folsom facility, All Creatures has invested in on-site diagnostic and treatment capabilities designed to reduce delays and provide more immediate answers for pet owners facing urgent situations. The clinic includes digital radiography, advanced in-house blood analyzers, oxygen concentrators, custom oxygen cages and CAT scan capabilities, allowing the team to evaluate critical cases without always requiring outside referral delays.
That mission gives added context to Thursday’s event, which will give community members a chance to meet the team, learn more about the clinic’s work and celebrate a local veterinary emergency facility built around animal care, accessibility and compassion.
The community event will include refreshments and food, games and activities, raffle giveaways, photo opportunities and special guests. Parking will be available on site.
The clinic’s message for the event highlights both continuity and growth, using the phrase “Same mission. New chapter.” Organizers are also using the celebration as an opportunity to thank the clinic’s team, clients and community members for being part of its journey.
Those planning to attend can RSVP through Partiful or register through the Chamber of Commerce using the QR code provided on the event flyer.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held Thursday, June 4, at All Creatures Veterinary Emergency Clinic, 2210 E. Bidwell St., Suite 100, in Folsom. The event begins at 4 p.m., the ribbon cutting is scheduled for 5 p.m., and the celebration ends at 6:30 p.m.
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