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Council Hears Bill to Allow Miniature Pigs in Residential Areas, Animal Care Officials Back Removing Separate Licensing Requirement
Summary
Council Member Fiedler reintroduced legislation to allow miniature pigs on residential properties by removing a sunset provision from a prior ordinance; the county’s Animal Care and Control said it supports ownership but does not support a separate licensing requirement for pigs.
Council Member Fiedler on Jan. 14 reintroduced an ordinance to permit miniature pigs in residential areas by resurrecting a prior measure (Bill 7018) and removing its sunset clause, citing a constituent whose pet pig was displaced and could not return because the ordinance had expired.
“Resurrected Bill 7018 and removed the sunset,” Fiedler said. Animal Care and Control told the council it does not oppose ownership of miniature pigs but recommended against creating a separate licensing category for pigs, saying the purposes of licensing — identification, control of animals at large, and enforcement of mandated vaccinations — are not served by a separate pig license and current stray/ownership practices suffice. An Animal Care and Control representative said the department supports ownership without a separate licensing requirement and noted rabies vaccination rules do not apply to pigs the same way they apply to dogs.
Council members asked for clarifications about size limits and language; the bill presented a definition tied to height rather than weight, specifying a miniature pig as less than 22 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown. Members discussed the variability of miniature pig breeds and how animals purchased as “miniature” can grow larger than expected. Councilmember Fiedler said she would offer an amendment at a future meeting to remove a licensing provision; Animal Care and Control indicated it would support that amendment.
No formal council vote on Bill 625 is recorded in the Jan. 14 work session; the item was presented and staff responded to council questions.
