Kevin Pieper, The Baxter Bulletin / AP
Less than a week after Wilferd Kallhoff, 78, moved to a subdivision in Mountain Home, Ark., police told him the pig had to go because the city prohibits hogs and other farm animals, the Baxter Bulletin reports.
A trial is set for June 29.
Joker, a Swedish potbellied pig who weighs about 200 pounds, is a well-mannered pet, Kallhoff tells Paw Nation. He spends his days inside a four-foot-high chain-link pen in the backyard, sleeps on blankets in the garage, and never barks, bites or leaves the property. The animal likes children, especially when they feed him popcorn, and never wallows in mud, Kallhoff said. He never eats table scraps (being limited to popcorn, bananas and pig feed).
"I'm not saying he smells perfect, but he doesn't smell any worse than a dog does," Kallhoff said.
Kallhoff spoke with an official at City Hall to make sure his pet was allowed before moving to Mountain Home a few weeks ago from the city of Salem. "She said you can't have hogs," he said. "It doesn't say anything about potbellied pigs. She said 'As long as nobody complains, I guess it will be OK.'"
But Kallhoff had barely moved in when a neighbor reported the pig in the yard to City Hall. The police gave him five days to find Joker a new home.
Mountain Home Police Chief Carry Manuel said the law doesn't differentiate potbellied pigs from hogs or make an exception for pets.
"In this part of the country, hog and pig are basically the same thing," he told Paw Nation. "We have to act accordingly through points of law, and it's prohibited by city ordinance."
Joker, the runt of his litter, has been with Kallhoff since birth in California, when Kallhoff and his late wife, Myrtle, had a business raising and selling pet pigs.
"He was just so cute, he became one of the family," Kalhoff said.
The pig used to sleep in the dining room -- each night, Kalhoff would cover him with blankets like a child -- but these days, Joker sleeps in the garage because Kalhoff's lady friend would prefer not to have the pig in the house.
As pot-bellied pigs have grown popular as pets, owners in several states have succeeded in getting zoning laws changed to allow them, according to Pigs4Ever.com, a site for potbellied-pig owners. In 2008, city leaders in Kissimmee, Fla. struck a compromise between owners of Vietnamese potbellied pigs, and their neighbors, by enacting a limit of two potbellied pigs per household, with the requirement that the pigs must be kept indoors.
Mountain Home Mayor David L. Osmon was sympathetic to Kallhoff's plight but said there was nothing he could do unless the City Council decides to change the law, which has been on the books for decades.
"If the City Council wants to change that law, I'll sign the ordinance," Osmon said.
In the meantime, Kallhoff says he won't second-guess the judge, but he worries what will happen to Joker. While losing the pig would be "like losing a child," Kallhoff said, he can't pick up and move again.
"If he tells me I have to get rid of him, I guess, as bad as it will hurt, I'll have to do it," Kallhoff said. "I would probably have to have him euthanized because I don't think anybody would take care of him the way I do."
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Let him have his pet!!!!!
Make him get rid of the lady friend for making the pig stay in the garage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree, SERIOUSLY...I think people need to get a life if all they do is complain about things that aren't worth complaining about. GEEZ
Watch Capitalism: A Love Story by Micheal Moore.
I don't have a pot belly pig.
I do have Diversified thinking.
This man is attached to this animal. This animal is attached to this man.
What if it was you? I understand that people, neighbors, others, might not like the animal, or the smell, or the man. I get that this might not be in the realm of every other person's understanding, or comfort.
But what SHOULD be, is that this man, and this animal, are in their own place, and it shouldn't be something that others should be able to control.
We live here so that we can have freedom.
A free society is one where it is safe to be different.
Leave this man, and this animal, alone, even if you don't like that he's different.
If you have any faith or belief in diversity, in love, in animals being part of our lives, in hope, in taking care of someone who believes in what he's doing, in freedom, in rights, in something other than your home ownder's association, then GET UP RIGHT NOW AND PUT YOURSELF IN THIS MAN'S YARD, in your neighbor's yard, in your yard, hold up a sign, and don't let anybody take what is this man's, and what could someday be yours, if your near enough to this area to do so. If you aren't, speak out so that you are heard. Help him.
Someday, it could be you or your family.
It is still legal to think.
Do something.
THIS IS LUDICROUS, YOU CAN KILL ANIMALS AND MAKE VIDEOS AND TAKEN TO COURT ITS CALLED FREEDOM OF SPEECH, BUT LET A MAN KEEP HIS ANIMAL HE HAS LOVED AND CHERISHED FOR ALL THESE YEARS AND SOMEONE COMPLAINS. WHERE IS HUMANITY IN HUMAN ? THIS MAN CARES AND TAKES CARE AND NOW THEY WANT TO TAKE AWAY A GREAT PART OF HIS LIFE..WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE ?? AND SORRY BUT I WOULD TELL MY LADY FRIEND TO SLEEP IN THE GARAGE INSTEAD OF CHANGING HIS COMFORTS HE HAS KNOWN FOR SO LONG.
Yes! Let him keep the pig, tell the neighbor to move, and take the girlfiend with them!
Can the guy move to a friendlier place?
they should get rid of the pig that turned this man and his pet in. give me a break, please let this man keep his beautiful and delicous pet..
I would rather have a pig living next to me than a barking yapping dog. There's always one neighbor on the street that has nothing better to do but complain.
Several years ago I sold my home because of my neighbor's barking dog.
I'll take a pig anyday!
I agree with the lady friend, there is no reason for a pig to sleep in the house, a very nice bed, throw in a pillow, in the garage will be fine. Let the pig stay!!!!!!
But please don't euthanized him, please that is the last straw. But if it must be done, please send me some pork chops, becon, ribs, hams.
I was thinking the same thing Barbara. If someone can't except a member of the family in the house then that person ought to be the one to leave.
right - seems that he is willing to give up the pig for his lady friend though.
I live in california,If your case turns bad, I will take care of your pig for ya ! you won't have to murder him
Not only should he be allowed to keep his pet but the lady friends should definitely go! I would never let my husband tell me to put my animals (cats) in the garage! Pot bellied pigs, if kept clean, are as much pets as cats or dogs.
I AGREE GET RID OF THE OTHER PIG THAT MAKES JOKER STAY IN THE GARAGE. LET THE MAN KEEP HIS PIG.
I agree. Sounds like this poor guy has had to make too many compromises already. Keep the pig, lose the town and lose the lady.
I want this man to have his life long friend to stay, but what makes this man better than the Law? He knew the ordinance was in place and has been in place for a LONG time. I do agree that the neighbor should be minding their own business, but that's Mountain Home,AR. They come here from the North and want to change everybody's life. I don't remember the name of the place but there is an animal sanctuary that houses "Lurch" the steer with very large horns. Instead of having this Hog put to death, take him out to be with "Lurch". I know they would take care of him there.
Let him keep his pet. Who ever turned him in needs a heart. Toni
Let this man have his pig, It is quite appearent that he has grown an attachment with this animal and is probably harmless. The fact the animal sleeps in the garage and basks in a pen it poses no threat to neighbors or any other pets. SOME People need to just get a life and worry about real issues and leave this elderly man and his geriatric pig alone.........
Why can't people mind their own business?! unless this animal has gone onto your property or bothered you, why are neighbors so nosy that they have to get into it. These people obviously never heard that nobody likes a tattle tale!!
I think he should be able to have his pig. Who cares, if he doesn't create a nusance.