Across America people are purchasing potbelly pigs and their smaller counterparts as household/companion pets. Unfortunately, animal control and welfare organizations have not caught up in terms of proper husbandry and management. Thousands of pigs originally purchased as pets, are ending up in shelters or euthanized because owners can not continue to provide for them. Education is key to this new pet trend! One major issue that has been cropping up and Animal Services cannot properly or appropriately deal with, is outdoor pet pigs not being given adequate levels of water or mud in order to cool off in extreme summer temperatures. Officers seem to not understand that swine cannot sweat, except on the end of their snouts, and therefore need more than a small drinking dish in order to cool themselves off and regulate their body temperature. Even in shaded areas, the heat index can still be extremely dangerous for a pig that continues to flip its smaller water bowl in an effort to make mud and cool itself off. Especially for an owner that is not able to return to fill the pigs water multiple times a day. We would like to see all animal control officers properly educated on pet pig welfare and make it a finable offense if a solely outdoor pig is not offered at minimum, a shallow mud wallow or kiddie pool (refilled on an every other day basis) in temperatures exceeding 90 degrees in air temperature OR humidity levels (heat index). A small water dish as the only water source being offered in extreme heat situations is unacceptable and should be properly addressed. Outdoor pigs NEED shade, clean drinking water AND a water source to regulate their body temperature in excessive heat situations! Please sign this petition to publicly address this growing need and misunderstanding of pigs. Lets not sit idly by and let more pet pigs suffer from heat exhaustion and lack of proper water and care, when the wording of codes and laws have simply not caught up to the "pet pig trend." Hold owners and animal services accountable!