Potbelly pigs may soon be welcome in Strathmore

Times Reporter  

 

Strathmore resident Trevor Dahl brought a request to town council to see an amendment made to the animal bylaw to allow potbelly pigs as house pets. Dahl has been a rescuer and owner of potbelly pigs for 10 years and a resident in the town of Strathmore for five years. 

He said in reading the bylaw it seemed more focused on animals best suited to agricultural land, and he agrees with not allowing people to raise sheep or goats next to his house.  

Dahl said his pig weighs about 30lbs and he has absolutely no desire to breed potbelly pigs at this time. He gave council a list of reasons about why he would like to see amendments made to the bylaw. 

“They are extremely clean animals compared to what everyone seems to think and kind of the repertoire that they run with. There is next to no smell when you do have a pet pig living in your house or your back yard,” said Dahl. 

There can be concern about toiletry habits; he said the pig itself, if given the option, would not go to the bathroom anywhere where it lives. 

If the pig is house trained it will do the same as a dog and ask to be let outside. As for noise, he said in his 10 years of having pet pigs he has had guests that didn’t even realize he had a pet pig until the guest saw it.  

“As for how they are being a house pet, they’re extremely affectionate, they’re social animals. Ours would lay in the living room floor and if he actually had the chance and was able to score over the dog he’d be up on the couch, cuddling on the couch,” said Dahl. 

He said a potbelly pig will greet you at the door the same as a dog would, and they love having their belly rubbed. 

“I know in changing the bylaw there would be a fear of having an influx of potbelly pigs coming into the town. I’ve researched everything that I have ever had as a pet long before I ever thought about getting it. As a responsible pet owner I have made sure all of my animals have vet care,” said Dahl. 

“I’ll be the first one to admit I don’t think everyone should have a potbelly pig, they’re not a normal pet, they’re not for everybody and if you want to have one I say get educated first. There’s dietary concerns, there’s health concerns and there’s knowledge you need to know before you think about getting this as a pet.”

Dahl said there are seven lineages of the potbelly pig. When they first became popular they were the true potbelly pig that only gained 55 to 75lbs, which was the average dog size, weight-wise. The bigger pigs came from cross breeding not being done properly. In the amendment there could be a limit to the size and breed of the pig to ensure there aren’t suddenly a number of 150 to 200lb pigs being abandoned. Dahl said there are two lineages genetically that could be specified that are considered the micro or mini potbelly pig which would be any pig under 85lbs. 

Councillor Pat Fule is concerned that if they open the door and don’t specify the type, then people will end up with these large pigs that they don’t know what to do with. He asked Christine Campbell, chairperson with the board of directors for Oops-a-Dazy Rescue, who was in attendance at the meeting, if there is a problem with abandoned potbelly pigs in Alberta. 

Campbell said there were a lot of problems in the beginning. One of those things was dietary: people would get their pig and feed it pig food which makes sense. But that food is designed for pigs of the large porcine type, which helps them grow and is not meant to be fed to potbelly pigs. 

“We as an organization have done a lot of work to educate the public about pigs,” said Campbell. 

“We offer personalized coaching to anyone considering adoption of a pig to try to prevent those sorts of issues. What we do find now is the problems with abandonment are as a result of bylaws like this which are designed primarily as Trevor mentioned for the agricultural swine.”

Dahl said over the years he has noticed a decrease in the education about owning pet pigs.

“They’re not an easy pet to take care of, if you want actual description on what it’s like to have a pet pig in your house you have to imagine having a three-year-old child in your house for 15 years, with the same intelligence level,” said Dahl.

They have to be entertained, they have to have toys and play and if their toy is dirty they won’t play with it. The fencing needed in a yard for a potbelly pig would be the same as what someone would use for a dog, and not chicken wire. Rooting can become a concern if the pig is left alone for a long time outside with no toys or distractions, but even then it would be a minor concern. The Dahl family disposes of manure by either giving it to a farm out in Gleichen that uses fertilizers, or giving it to their friends with gardens.

Council suggested that administration meet with Dahl and Campbell to create an amendment to the bylaw.