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Evansville Will Consider Allowing Potbellied Pigs as Pets

Vanderburgh Humane Society

The city of Evansville is considering allowing potbellied pigs as pets. 

The city's Animal Control and Education Commission has reviewed a proposed ordinance that would add the pigs to the list of pets allowed with a license.

The Courier and Press reports the commission is recommending that the permit price to keep one of the pigs be set at $100. That fee is comparable to the permit required to  own six or more dogs. 

The Evansville City Council will review the proposed ordinance on June 26.

The Vanderburgh Humane Society has one potbellied pig in the shelter now. It had six of the pigs come in last year and all were  adopted, but only by residents of Vanderburgh County.

Vanderburgh Humane Society Executive Director Kendall Paul said the areas that allow the pigs might change.

“Potbellied pigs are allowed in Vanderburgh County, but they’re not currently allowed in the city of Evansville. That does pose a little bit more of a problem because we’re dramatically limiting the number of families that could adopt these pigs.”

Paul said it would good to have more options for the pigs.

“Potbellied pigs are house animals. They’re going to live in the home, no different than a dog. They’re really not going to cause any other problems in a neighborhood than a dog would.  So we certainly hope that they remove the restrictions so they can be allowed, just as any other pet, and that will be easier for us to find homes for them.”

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