Who We Are

Pigs as Pets is all volunteers. We are dedicated to serving the people and pet pigs as a pet in the United States. Pigs as Pets vision is…… The primary objectives and purpose of PAP shall be: To provide advocacy , action, and necessary support towards attaining the best quality for pigs as pets, to supply education about the pig as pets to current pig owners, prospective pig owners, the general public, and community partners, to give back to the needs of the community through services provided by PAP and collaborations with PAP, with the best practices in pig husbandry such as behavior, housing requirements, feed recommendations, seeking veterinary care, and to continuously enhance the support to meet these objectives and purposes.

What We Do

We work around the country to help protect pigs as pets, we are in collaborating with Pet Advocacy Network and a vast coalition of others to ensure that animal welfare legislation is put into place throughout the country. States to contact for statewide support as a bill allowing pigs as a pet: • Alabama • Alaska • Arizona – contact first • Arkansas • California- contact last • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Idaho- contact second • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada- contact third • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • Ohio • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington D.C • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming Our goal is to reclassify pigs as pets from livestock to companion animals in states that don’t recognize them as pets. The importance of allowing pet pigs as pets: Vietnamese potbellied pigs and miniature pigs are native to Southeast Asia and since 1985 have been imported into the United States as pets. They are highly intelligent, social and playful who require mental stimulation and an appropriate living environment for optimal well-being. Municipal zoning laws were usually created to delineate urban from rural areas to protect citizens from nuisance. They were created long before the advent of pet pig ownership in the United States and do not reflect the reality of the proliferation of companion pigs in recent years. With pig rescues at maximum capacity pet pigs are often abandoned or destroyed. It is the view of Pigs as Pets that action to create protection for pet pigs and their loving families is long overdue. The first and foremost concern should be the safety of the pet pig. A secondary concern should be the right of the pet pig owners to be secure in their ownership of their companion animal. Take action for pigs as pets in your state. Talk to your state legislators about passing laws to recognize pigs as pets and regulations to protect them! In order to address these concerns we respectfully request you contact your State Representatives with the following: • {The Ask:} Please consider supporting legislation that would allow the statewide keeping of these type of pigs as pets. • Currently, pet pigs are not considered as pets in state of XXX. An estimated amount of pigs in households in the state of XXX.

Steps to take for reclassifying pet pigs as

pets:

• Please contact your State Affairs led by your state director, partnered with elected officials, law enforcements….. https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/state -affairs • Once you talk with your state director ask them to help with reclassifying pigs as pets in upcoming session. They have the ability to give you contact name of State Rep in your state to ask them to sponsor a potential bill. • Write an email message to state reps with similar message. • If you don’t choose to call your state representative – send a letter such as the following: Dear ______ , My name is XXX. I am writing on behalf of the North American Pet Pig Association (NAPPA) to consider supporting legislation that would allow the statewide keeping of Vietnamese potbellied pigs and miniature pigs as a pet. Currently, Vietnamese potbellied pigs and miniature pigs are not allowed as a pet in some states. The Importance of Allowing Pigs as Pets: I am writing today to ask for your support about recognizing them as a pet. Current laws treat all pigs as livestock, a situation that does not reflect the real differences between species suited for companionship and domestic residence and their much larger cousins (farm livestock). By enacting thoughtful regulations, xxx (state) can ensure that its citizens are educated and equipped to keep Vietnamese potbellied pigs and miniature pigs as animal companions. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you. Sincerely, xxxx • Many pet pig owners are forced to fight their municipal Government or surrender them to pig sanctuaries or pig rescues. • Additionally, pig rescues are inundated with full-sized Vietnamese potbellied pigs and miniature pigs who have been surrendered after the owners could no longer care for them. • Vietnamese potbellied pigs and miniature pigs are native to Southeast Asia and since 1985 have imported into the United States as pets. • They are highly intelligent and playful who require mental stimulation and an appropriate living environment for optimal well-being. As Vietnamese potbellied pigs and miniature pigs have become widely accepted as pets, many towns, cities and municipalities throughout the United States have enacted laws to permit the keeping of Vietnamese potbellied pigs as miniature pigs as pets. • They have the ability to form bonds with their humans and are very affectionate and playful. Each has their own unique personalities. • They can indeed make great pets for the right people with the right expectations.

Summary:

Our goal is to reclassify Vietnamese potbellied pigs and miniature pigs from livestock to companion pets and allow them to live with their families in cities and towns. The definition from zoo: These population are bred and raised under human control for many generations and are substantially altered as a group in appearance or behavior. Examples include potbellied pigs, ferrets, turkeys, canaries, domestic pigeons, budgerigars, goldfish, silkworms, dogs, cats, sheep, chickens, llamas and guinea pigs. When classified as an exotic animal many cities and towns refuse these categories and the potbellied pig ultimately end up in a sanctuary or is euthanized. Potbellied pigs and miniature pigs as pets can be a delight to have around your home. They make good pets and easy to care for as well. I would hope that everyone has educated themselves in the difference of potbellied pigs, miniature pigs and farm livestock. They are intelligent, readily trained, affectionate, curious, playful, clean, generally quiet, odor free and usually non- allergenic. Many owners consider their pigs’ an integral part of the family and involve them in all activities. The potbellied pigs and miniature pigs do not have sweat glands and therefore no odor. They are easily trained and housebroken like dogs and cats.