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Deanna Dent, South Florida Sun-Sentinel / MCT

The Florida family who was ready to move rather than give up their 300-pound pet pig may not have to pack up and leave after all.

After Rob Falk's family and their Yorkshire pig, Strawberri, made national headlines, their local town council in Southwest Ranches, Fla. decided it will consider changing its law banning all swine except for pot-bellied pigs, reports the Chicago Tribune.

The town had originally told the Falk family that they had until December 1 to find a new home for their pet, or face a fine of $100 per day. The Falks, who rent their home, consider Strawberri a part of the family and were prepared to uproot their lives to keep her. A vote on Strawberri's fate could come as early as January, but hopefully the Falk family and Strawberri will be able to enjoy the holidays at home. Town Councilman Doug McKay will testify before a magistrate to help the family get an extension on their deadline until the council can vote.

McKay said that at least ten other pigs who would be in violation of the code also live in the town so it was unfair to single out the Falks. Town officials responded that they don't typically go around counting swine.

"Strawberri is pretty big, but she's like a big puppy," the Falk's 11-year -old daughter Kai told the Tribune. "This is putting a lot of stress on me and Strawberri.


    

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J#1 J11-29-2009 @ 7:43AM

Who cares if they have a pig? Stupid laws allow dangerous dogs like pitbulls.. Ban THEM ALL.. and their owners too.. they are a strange breed wanting to keep these timebombs in their houses...."NO HE DON'T BITE" yeah wonder how many parents sitting in an ER with their kid getting staples in their heads have heard that one before.

Melanie#2 Melanie11-29-2009 @ 9:33AM

Pretty ignorant.

matt#3 matt11-29-2009 @ 10:01AM

There is nothing wrong with pit bulls, shepherds, dobies, or rotties. The problem is with their owners. Dogs want to obey and love. These dogs get stigmas as nasty angry dogs but they are not. I read electric and gas meters at work often going into peoples backyards and it doesn't matter what kind of dog it is, I have met many many collies, poodles, and little 5 lbs ankle biters that were much much nastier than many pit bulls.Its all about their training or lack there of, the home they live in, and how the owner treats them.

xxxxxxx#4 xxxxxxx11-29-2009 @ 11:01AM

That is very ignorant. Pitbulls can be as good as any other Labrador. Only reason to "fear" dogs are when they are the specific ones trained to dogfight. Don't single out a breed when you know nothing.

Anyway, this piggie article, how silly! Let them keep the pig, it isn't doing any harm.

Lindsey#5 Lindsey11-29-2009 @ 12:00PM

you're not that bright.

wake-up dummy#6 wake-up dummy11-29-2009 @ 12:05PM

While we are at it lets "BAN THEM ALL" morons who drive drunk, text while driving, talk on cell phones while driving, drive while eating, drive while talking to their passengers, have kids in their car, people who use toxic pesticides & herbicides on their lawns, use CO2 emitting propane to cook with, who eat meat rather than vegetables and fruits in season, and who post comments about "dangerous animals" when THEY themselves are just THAT: AN ANIMAL!

Animals have instincts & emotional reactions to things like their territory being invaded by another creature - how would you react if someone broke into your home? DUH!!

Ever seen a fist fight in school or at work? People are WAAAY stupider & MUCH MUCH MORE Dagerous than animals! Check the statistics on injuries, deaths, and abuse. YEAH - Let's Ban Them All Starting With YOU!


"""""Who cares if they have a pig? Stupid laws allow dangerous dogs like pitbulls.. Ban THEM ALL.. and their owners too.. they are a strange breed wanting to keep these timebombs in their houses...."NO HE DON'T BITE" yeah wonder how many parents sitting in an ER with their kid getting staples in their heads have heard that one before."""""

Jimmie#7 Jimmie11-29-2009 @ 12:23PM

I was just reading on someones facebook page about her baby getting bit by their pitull and how the baby needs to learn how to leave the dog alone had the baby not messed with him she wouldnt have had to get stitches in her face and a big black eye.She went on to say how her pit is an angle and it wasnt the pits fault.She is keeping the pit and unfortunatly the baby too.I wrote on her blog the next blog you will be writting on here will be how your baby needs facial recontructive surgry because she "messed" with the dog again.She deleted me from her friends she didnt like that comment.

SadieAngel#8 SadieAngel11-29-2009 @ 9:06AM

First off, Pit Bulls are not dangerous dogs. Thier OWNERS who train them to be that way are dangerous people. No, I do not own a Pit Bull but have extensive experience with animals, rescued, injured, abandoned, abused, home placement, animal control, MSPCA efforts etc. Pit Bulls are just as sweet and loving and loyal and playful and goofy as any other dog. ANY dog can be mean and vicious if brought up and trained by the wrong person. Not just a Pit Bull!
As for the family pig. If he is not a bother to the neighbors or their property and is a loving, happy, family pet who is well cared for and causes no harm to anyone. Then leave them be!
There are more pre-teen, teenagers AND adults out there that have more issues and cause more problems than pit bulls and that poor adorable pig!

DAWillmore#9 DAWillmore11-29-2009 @ 8:50AM

Pit Bulls are naturally friendly??? Is that why most major insurance companies refuse to insure homes that have Pit Bulls, Aketas, Chows, and untrained Dobermans in them?

Melanie#10 Melanie11-29-2009 @ 9:34AM

I have a pit bull. Sweetest thing in the world. My little cousins would ride her and pull on her ears and she didn't care at all :) How ignorant to think that it is the dog and not the owner who raise them to be mean. You can raise a golden retriever to be just as nasty as any other dog. The reason insurance companies have those obsene policies is because ignorant people who create this false stigma.

Christina#11 Christina11-29-2009 @ 9:37AM

Pitbulls are naturally friendly???? I have 4 big scares on my forehead and cheek that say otherwise. Yes, I was bit in the face, attacked by a pit bull. This pit bull was a family members dog, and she was VERY well treated. Treated like a real human being. Never abused, taken care of better then most dogs. What happened??? I walked by it....THAT'S IT!!!!! I walked by it and this damn dog jumped up and clamped her jaws down on my face. There is a reason that insurance companies won't insure you if you own a pit bull, or you can't bring them to dog parks, or sometimes can't even live in a housing community if you own a pit bull.... They are naturally DANGEROUS!!!!

Spade On Parade#12 Spade On Parade11-29-2009 @ 9:52AM

The problem with pitbulls is that they have been known to turn on people for no reason. They may just be walking by, sitting on a chair, or petting it, and they get bit. Yes, they are very sweet dogs. I used to own one because my friends pitbull had a litter. We were even alerted of the danger of taking it in. Most pitbulls actuaally don't turn on people, but it's the few that do that make it hard on the rest of them. And it is actually possible that any dog could turn around and bite a random person, because no dog is fully domesticated. Some breeds just have a higher chance.

Lisa#13 Lisa11-29-2009 @ 9:55AM

Very good point, Sadie - It's the owners who train the dogs to be aggressive - Socialization is important at a young age, both with children and pets. Children and adults are just as aggressive or even more aggressive than dogs. Perhaps insurance companies should not insure people than for that matter if one is going to make a case for not insuring violent behavior. However - back to the story - I hope they get to keep Strawberri - she's very cute and I would also move out of the neighborhood if I had to give up one of my pets. Who wants to live in a neighborhood that doesn't welcome a part of your family, anyway.

honeybun#14 honeybun11-29-2009 @ 10:28AM

First of all the reason pit bulls are labeled by insurance companies is because of all of the bad media behind the name. Again I agree with the Sadie Angel it is the stupid low lives that train the dogs to fight. Those people are the monsters who need to be in jail. the dogs suffer. My 2 pit bulls are the sweetest and friendliest dogs I have ever owned. They play with our cats and love other people. We need to get the word out and work to get Pit Bulls their good name back. Remember, Petie from The Little Rascals? He was a pit bull always with the rascal kids. I am so tired of people giving pit bulls a bad name.

bawannajack#15 bawannajack11-29-2009 @ 8:45AM

I don't know where the pit bull thing came into the picture but pot bellied pigs are real cool animals. I don't think I have ever heard of a story where one has turned on it's owner. Never. They are very sweet animals and incredibly intelligent as well so I hope the city council votes to let them stay. The fact that the family is willing to pick up and move just to keep the critter tells me everything.... They love their piggy! and something tells me that their piggy loves them.....

goatboy#16 goatboy11-29-2009 @ 5:54PM

Insurance companies look for anything or any loophole that can have them avoid paying a claim. These companies like HMO's are the scourge and scum of the earth, whose sole purpose is to rob you blind and then find a way out of paying any claim. It's what they do. So, insurance companies don't belong in this conversation. For anyone who watches the "Dog Whisperer" knows that the breed is unfairly treated because of the owners. For the guy with scars on his face from a family members Pit Bull, it wasn't properly trained! Owning this dog has responsibility as with any dog. Giving a dog love doesn't mean that it won't protect the owners and their territory as is the nature of the breed. To own a Pit, requires training and if properly done, these episodes would NOT happen. You can't buy a pet and give it love and not expect its' nature not to show up when people outside of its domain enter in. These animals, not just Pits need proper training and that is solely the responsibility of its' owners.

xscilune#17 xscilune11-29-2009 @ 9:04AM

I used to have peacocks in panama city another fl.town ,I had these birds since 1975 and people would bring there kids to look at them,untill certain people ie the drug sellers next door,and the dirty cops,along with the self important well to do (at least they thought so ! It was a Upper class neighbour hood.}decided that my birds were BARN YARD FOWL.Not exotic birds.Well I had to give them away.A frend of mine had a black leopard that I had papers to keep up to 72 hours,I am traned o handle large cats.I was walking SULTAN one evening when we were attacted by 2 dobermans Neadless to say Sultan took care of the dogs.The cops were going to charge me and take the cat(and proably kill him} untill the neighbours tould them that they saw the dogs attack.I wish people would mind thier own business.I think the gangbanger kid

woof#18 woof11-29-2009 @ 9:46AM

OK enough about the pitbulls...I have raised them for over 17 yrs...I am a pround owner of 3 now.......This is about a PIG......my question is,,,how come somebody has to stick their nose in someones elses business?....Captain Ovbious.....says...these people love their pet....and who is it hurting?? I think people should mind their own business...and let these people love & enjoy their pet ......since they rent.....the landlord didnt seem to have a problem.....so who's the trouble maker?

woof#19 woof11-29-2009 @ 9:52AM

Oh and since your throwing pitbulls under the bus when this is about a pig.. ......Just remember.....ANY DOG WILL & CAN BITE !!!!!!!!!

chrissy#20 chrissy11-29-2009 @ 9:59AM

There have been test done that show Pitbulls have something wrong with them. There are more pitbull attacks then any other dog so what are people trying to say that owners of pitbulls just happen to treat them bad and every other breed is treated fine?

There has been to much proof the dogs are dangerous, there have been owners of dogs who have attacked that have said there dogs were well loved and like babies and they just turned. I remember when i was in middle school we did a study on them and I still remember some of the stories.

One story was about two pitbulls who use to wonder the community, none cared because they were well behaved dogs and the type of dogs that would come up to you and want to be pet and lick you. Well one day a lady came home and was putting groceries away in her home and had left the door open when the two dogs came into her home and just started attacking, I do not remember if she died or not.

Another one is a pitbull use to always jump the fence which some had complained about while others did not because they new the dog was friendly. One day a woman was out getting her mail and the dog just attacked, the lady next door saw what was going on and started hitting the dog with a broom and it tried to attack her.

If pitbulls were not proven to be a danger they would not be banned in certain Cities, off the top of my head I know you can not have one in Baltimore City . I bill had to be passed in order to ban the dog and you have to have a good amount of evidence with proof to back it up, you can not just say hey this breed is dangerous lets ban it. Even some vets refuse to take pitbulls



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