insidetoronto.com

Would you suggest a pot-bellied pig as a pet?

Christine

You win the prize, Christine. Nobody has ever asked my opinion on living with a pig but after researching the subject, I have to admit this is one animal that would make an interesting companion.

On the other hand, I wonder why, with all the "usual" domestic pets needing homes, someone would choose to search far afield for what many would consider an "exotic" pet.

In fact, in most Canadian municipalities, including Toronto, a pig is prohibited on public or private property without permits that are generally available only to zoos, professional filming, research laboratories and a few others.

Pigs are listed along with other illegal creatures such as elephants, cattle, ostriches and kiwis. A pig is a pig is a pig, according to Toronto municipal code No. 349, whether it's a basic farmyard porker or its exotic pot-bellied cousin. If it's in Toronto without special permission, it's illegal. This isn't to say that the local animal shelters don't occasionally find themselves with a pig whose owners didn't realize it was against the law or they hoped their pet would hoof it under the radar.

A small number of pig rescue groups operate in Canada where they live out their lives or adopted by people who reside in areas where the animals aren't prohibited. If you're seriously considering bringing a pot-bellied pig into your home, please check with your local municipality to find out if these animals are allowed to reside in your community.

There are several renditions of a pot-bellied pig but it's believed they originated in South China.

The first imports to Canada probably came from Vietnam in the early 1980s and were mostly black in colour. They were joined later by pigs originating from other regions of Asia and a sprinkling of other types from England and Sweden with each line sporting variances in colouring and facial features.

Breeding amongst these lines created the variety of pot-bellied pigs we see in North America today. They can weigh anywhere from 50 to 200 pounds and live from 15 to 20 years. Colouring can be all-black, all-white, all-silver or a combination, and all pot-bellied pigs sport the trademark sway back, short snout, rounded pricked ears, straight tail and, yes, a large stomach.

We've all heard that pigs are highly intelligent creatures and fans of the pot-bellied variety couldn't agree more.

These are highly social creatures that delight in the company of other pigs and usually enjoy sharing their lives with dogs, cats and other domestic animals. They're also highly affectionate, enjoy a good belly rub and full-body massage followed by a snooze at the foot of the human's bed. Yes, the emotional needs of a pot-bellied pig are similar to those of a dog. They want to live in the house, just like any beloved pet.

"Eating like a pig" is perfectly normal for these animals and they're very prone to unhealthy weight gain. They eat vegetables, grains, fruit and meat but, like most domestic pets and human beings, if given the choice, they'd gladly pass up the veggies for a high-carb meal so pig parents will need to be careful to feed a diet of commercial pet pig food or a well-balanced diet as recommended by a veterinarian.

Pigs need to be spayed/neutered and vaccinated. Male pigs will need their tusks trimmed every few years and all pigs will require hoof-trimming at least once annually.

Like most dogs, a pig can be easy to train with food as motivation. They can learn to walk on leash, perform a variety of tricks and even use a litterbox. They are, as previously mentioned, intelligent animals.

Visit www.petpigs.com for more information on these proficient porcine pets.

E-mail jacque-newman@rogers.com with a question, comment or suggestion.