SOUTHWEST RANCHES -
A Flordia town has ordered one man to get rid of his pet pig, saying it violates the municipal code. Rob Falk says love me, love my pig. He's outta here.
The pig's name is Strawberry. She weighs 300 pounds, she snorts when she's happy, and she's pushy about letting you know when she wants a good rub behind the ears.
"She thinks she's a dog," Falk explains about the nine-month-old porker.
But Southwest Ranches says it had the town's best interests in mind when it ordered Falk to get rid of his pet. The reason: the town allows one relatively dainty Vietnamese pot-bellied pig per household. But Strawberry, named for the only food she would eat for the first few days of her life, is a portly Yorkshire.
Councilman Freddy Fisikelli said pot-bellied pigs can get pretty big and grow small tusks. But some other breeds, like Yorkshires, can grow unacceptably gigantic tusks. And he does mean Strawberry.
"Too dangerous," he said. "When that pig grows to be about 400-500 pounds it can cut you up in a minute. You ever see a wild boar? They have big tusks that come out of the sides of their mouth; it's not a pet. It wouldn't be right for our town. That type of pig, the smell would be a problem and you've got the problem with danger."
For Falk, who owns a trucking company, the decision is easy: He, his wife Harmonee and young daughter Kai plan to move away from his rental in the Green Meadows neighborhood.
"How do you tell somebody to get rid of one of their animals?" he said. "The pig is like one of our children."
The Falks' landlord, Matthew Novick, received a code violation in July. After months of squabbling, Councilman Doug McKay earlier this month proposed a law allowing one domestic pig of any breed. The effort failed for lack of a second vote.
Falk said code enforcement told him Thursday he had 30 days to get rid of the pig, or move.
"I know people have pet ducks, pet rabbits, pet birds, pet guinea pigs, pet goats; Southwest Ranches is all about animals," McKay said. "I feel bad for him, they had a pet. They weren't breeding pigs."
Falk said the rule isn't fair. Strawberry "wouldn't hurt a fly."
Lisa J. Huriash can be reached at lhuriash@sunsentinel.com or 954-572-2008.
The pig's name is Strawberry. She weighs 300 pounds, she snorts when she's happy, and she's pushy about letting you know when she wants a good rub behind the ears.
"She thinks she's a dog," Falk explains about the nine-month-old porker.
But Southwest Ranches says it had the town's best interests in mind when it ordered Falk to get rid of his pet. The reason: the town allows one relatively dainty Vietnamese pot-bellied pig per household. But Strawberry, named for the only food she would eat for the first few days of her life, is a portly Yorkshire.
Councilman Freddy Fisikelli said pot-bellied pigs can get pretty big and grow small tusks. But some other breeds, like Yorkshires, can grow unacceptably gigantic tusks. And he does mean Strawberry.
"Too dangerous," he said. "When that pig grows to be about 400-500 pounds it can cut you up in a minute. You ever see a wild boar? They have big tusks that come out of the sides of their mouth; it's not a pet. It wouldn't be right for our town. That type of pig, the smell would be a problem and you've got the problem with danger."
For Falk, who owns a trucking company, the decision is easy: He, his wife Harmonee and young daughter Kai plan to move away from his rental in the Green Meadows neighborhood.
"How do you tell somebody to get rid of one of their animals?" he said. "The pig is like one of our children."
The Falks' landlord, Matthew Novick, received a code violation in July. After months of squabbling, Councilman Doug McKay earlier this month proposed a law allowing one domestic pig of any breed. The effort failed for lack of a second vote.
Falk said code enforcement told him Thursday he had 30 days to get rid of the pig, or move.
"I know people have pet ducks, pet rabbits, pet birds, pet guinea pigs, pet goats; Southwest Ranches is all about animals," McKay said. "I feel bad for him, they had a pet. They weren't breeding pigs."
Falk said the rule isn't fair. Strawberry "wouldn't hurt a fly."
Lisa J. Huriash can be reached at lhuriash@sunsentinel.com or 954-572-2008.
