pet pig - News - The Coastal Star2024-04-10T05:52:04Zhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/pet+pigLantana: Little pigs can stay in Lantana — until they are no longer littlehttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/lantana-little-pigs-can-stay-in-lantana-until-they-are-no-longer-2018-05-30T17:03:47.000Z2018-05-30T17:03:47.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p><strong>By Mary Thurwachter</strong></p>
<p>An amendment to an ordinance that would allow miniature pigs to live in Lantana squeaked by the Town Council on May 14 — but not without trepidation.<br /> While council members were sympathetic to the call from resident John Park to keep his pet mini pig when the topic first came up in April, further study of mini pigs, or teacup pigs, had the council concerned about how portly the little piggies could become.<br /> Council member Malcolm Balfour shared his remembrance of an issue Key West had with a pig in the past, when Balfour was a journalist covering a story there.<br /> “These pigs grow,” he said. “They grow very, very big. There was a man in Key West who had a pig next door and the pig was enamored with his Harley-Davidson. The pig destroyed the Harley-Davidson.” <br /> There was huge outcry over the issue, he said. <br /> “I’m going to keep my Harley in the garage,” quipped council member Phil Aridas, who supported the new ordinance.<br /> Vice Mayor Edward Shropshire said he had read that little pigs start to get big and by the age of 4 many of them end up going to rescue.<br /> “I just wondered if there’s another way we could go about this,” Shropshire said. “I see the individuals involved aren’t here tonight, but could they have it [pig] as an emotional support animal or something along those lines that would allow them to still keep the pig without us having to go through changing the code?<br /> “I understand this is a lovable pet, but are there alternative ways to handle this? Any well-behaved pet can be an emotional support animal with appropriate documentation from a licensed physician, and that’s from the North American Pet Pig Association.”<br /> But designating a pet as a therapy pig won’t work, said Town Attorney Max Lohman.<br /> “There’s a big difference between an emotional support animal and a service animal,” Lohman said. “Emotional support animals are not recognized by the ADA and you’re not protected by an emotional support animal. People run around doing that all the time like that yahoo who tried to take a peacock on an airplane. There’s a big, big difference and people have abused that to the point where the law doesn’t recognize it anymore.”<br /> Service animals are different, Lohman said. “A service animal assists someone with a legally recognized disability. An emotional support animal is not the same thing under the ADA, so we wouldn’t allow them a reasonable accommodation to get around our code for that.”<br /> Mayor Dave Stewart had also done some research and said some of the little pigs grow to be 180 pounds. At Stewart’s suggestion, the new ordinance will include a weight limit of 35 pounds.<br /> Lohman warned that enforcement could be a problem. <br /> Council member Lynn Moorhouse said he didn’t think pigs make nearly as much racket as a parrot or macaw or other birds. “If this is a small domesticated animal I have no problem with it in the least — unless there are substantial complaints by the Police Department where it’s a nuisance,” he said.<br /> The ordinance will come up for a final vote on June 11. Passage will mean Park won’t have to give up his pet pig or pay a fine — unless the animal tips the scale at more than 35 pounds.</p></div>Lantana: Resident gets town to consider ordinance to allow pet pighttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/lantana-resident-gets-town-to-consider-ordinance-to-allow-pet-pig2018-05-02T15:20:43.000Z2018-05-02T15:20:43.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p><strong>By Mary Thurwachter</strong></p>
<p>John Park didn’t appear before the Lantana Town Council on April 9 to squeal about tax increases or garbage pickup. He just wants to keep his mini pig. <br /> Park, who has a home on South 11th Street, said he received a code violation after his pet mini pig escaped his backyard and was found snoozing in the front yard with the family dog. <br /> “Our back gate blew open and the pig got outside, and it just so happened that at the time code enforcement was driving by,” Park said. “They saw the pig and the dog just laying on the front yard. We were found to be in violation. I didn’t have a neighbor report us. <br /> “The pig is potty-trained. It lives inside the house with us. It knows its name. It’s pretty much the same thing as a dog.”<br /> He asked if the law could be amended or changed to allow him to keep his pig. The ordinance prohibiting pigs really has more to do with livestock than personal pets, he argued.<br /> Park found sympathetic ears from council members, who agreed to discuss the matter further and have the town attorney, Max Lohman, draft language to modify the town code as it pertains to domestic animals.<br /> “We don’t want chickens, hens and goats running around the neighborhood. I got that,” council member Lynn Moorhouse said. “I’d like to see us at least talk about it.”<br /> Council member Phil Aridas agreed. “People have pigs for pets. They’re great pets. They’re cute,” he said.<br /> “Smarter than most people,” Moorhouse added.<br /> “I’m pro pig, Mr. Mayor,” council member Malcolm Balfour chimed in.<br /> “I’m all in favor of having a discussion of reasonable restrictions,” said Vice Mayor Ed Shropshire.<br /> Before Lohman begins drafting an ordinance, Mayor Dave Stewart asked Town Manager Deborah Manzo to poll residents to gauge their feelings on the issue. “We want the best for all the residents. Not too strict. Not too lenient.”<br /> The matter is on the May 14 agenda.<br /> In the meantime, Park’s little piggy stays home.</p></div>