Huntingburg to consider pet pig ordinance

Bailey
Bailey

The Huntingburg Common Council agreed to examine the city’s ordinances regarding expanding the definition of pets to include pot belly pigs.

Michael and Allison Bauer, residents at Jacob’s Court, appeared at the council meeting Thursday evening to appeal on behalf of their pet Vietnamese Pot Belly pig, Bailey.

According to Michael, the couple purchased the pig about a year ago on a whim and it has become a family-favorite. “She’s like one of our own,” he told the council.

The city code enforcement officer Steve Collett was notified of the Bauer’s pet pig and sent them a letter regarding the ordinance violation.

According to Huntingburg’s livestock ordinance, Bailey the pig falls under the definition as a swine. The ordinance precludes “feeders and breeders,” or livestock, from being housed as pets in the city.

According to Michael, there are at least three pigs being kept as pets in Huntingburg and 22 in the county.

Michael pointed out the ordinance predates the introduction of pot belly pigs as pets in the United States. “Most of those ordinances were made previous to 1985,” he said. “Pot bellied pigs were brought into the country after 1985 and they are becoming increasingly domestic animals.”

According to the Bauers, the pig is spade and kept in fenced-in area at the residence when outside. He told the council that she weighs about 65 pounds and he thought she would get up to 80 pounds. According to the site Pigs4ever.com, pot belly pigs average 120 to 150 pounds but can grow as large as 250 pounds. Even at that size they are still considered a miniature pig.

The council approved the city drafting an ordinance to allow citizens to own pot bellied pigs as pets in the city for review at the council meeting scheduled for July 24.

Until a decision is made on the ordinance, Bailey the pig can remain at home.

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Bailey in the yard at her home with the Bauer’s two other pets, Molly the dog and Purr Purr the cat.
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