Pigs
Over the past couple of years various celebrities have bought
micro pigs as pets. This in turn has led to an increase in members
of the general public wanting to own pet pigs too.
Micro pigs have been produced by selective breeding, but
prospective owners should bear in mind that there have been cases
where rogue breeders have sold ‘micro pigs’ only for the new owners
to end up will a full sized pig!
Remember, even though your pig might only be a micro sized pet,
it will still be classed as a farm animal and you must by law be
registered as a pig keeper with the Defra’s Animal Health and
Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA).
If you are thinking about getting a micro pig, there are a few
things that you should consider:
- Check your property deeds or check with your landlord that you
are allowed to keep pigs on the property, some deeds or tenancy
agreements forbid the owning of such animals.
- Let your neighbours know that you are going to keep pigs. As
they are not the most common of pets, people do get alarmed when
they see pigs in neighbouring gardens and they often contact the
Council to check that this is ok.
- Check whether or not you will require planning permission to
erect suitable housing for your animals.
- Make sure that your pigs are not going to cause a nuisance to
your neighbours due to noise, odour or pests.
- Check the DEFRA website for their advice and information on
pigs.
- Remember, if you want to take you pet pig for a walk, you must
apply for a licence and keep to the specified route as laid out in
the licence.
- Owning a pig is a long term commitment, they can live up to 15
years or more.