The Kansas City City Council put the finishing touches on an update of city rules on pet potbellied pigs Thursday, and in the process eased some restrictions.
To make it easier to adopt the animals or find homes for strays, pedigree papers are no longer necessary for the pigs . The word of any veterinarian that the pet pig is of the Vietnamese potbellied variety will suffice.
The weight limit of 95 pounds was removed.
“Ninety-five pounds is the average weight, but they can get up to twice that weight. They don't get real big, but they get... what you'd say... uh... thick,” Councilman John Sharp explained.
Sharp says owners become very attached to the pigs, which can live longer than 15 years.
Spaying and neutering of potbellied pigs will be encouraged but not required because there is no current overpopulation problem with potbellied pigs.
Some population control is included. Four will be the maximum number of pigs per household.
Potbellied pigs were allowed under an earlier ordinance, but only if the pig in question had been introduced to the city prior to 1995.