It's said that the morality of a nation can be judged by the way it treats its animals. But treatment is not just a matter of providing food, shelter and care. It's whether the animal in question ought to be a pet at all.

Potbelly pigs are pigs, which are farm animals that need to live on a farm with other pigs!

Strathcona County defines livestock to be "bison, horses, cattle and swine..." "...any person that keeps or harbours any livestock to which this by-law applies.. is guilty of an of an offence."

Animals don’t have a voice, and they can’t speak for themselves. But I am sure any pig would rather be on a farm, and in the company of other pigs. R.A.S.T.A. Rescue and Sanctuary for Threatened Animals who has been rescuing these potbellied pigs from urban homes, begs people to stop buying these pigs. They cannot serve as an endless dumping ground for these animals that people purchase and cannot care for.

The National Farm Animal Care Council has a code of practice for the care of pigs. In farm situations the pigs must be able to socialize with other pigs, and enrichments to their areas are recommended. Pigs that are food source get better treatment than a pet in a pen in a yard or in a home. There can be no socialization between pigs when he is alone. The council also warns that mice can be a major health threat around swine facilities. Flies and other insects can be both a nuisance and a disease vector. These animals are not meant to be kept in residential area’s.

I believe it is animal abuse to keep a potbellied pig in a house and deprive it the basic desires to root and socialize with other pigs.

 For more information about Potbellied Pig Rescues  http://rastarescue.org/