Archived News

Pigs as pets in Canton?

Pigs as pets in Canton?

For decades, urban jurisdictions have enacted animal ordinances intended to sequester the odiferous, unsightly sprawl of animal husbandry outside of town limits.

Those ordinances have grown in recent years to prohibit exotic pets that may be dangerous to the public if released (like felids or large primates), as well as invasive species that could be devastating to the local ecology (like reptiles or rodents), but they are also rooted in concerns over sanitation.

As a result, swine — which are dangerous in the wild, invasive in appetite, and unsanitary in large numbers — remain prohibited in many cities and towns.

Smaller domesticated varieties like the American Mini Pig, the Ossabaw Island Hog and the Pot Belly don’t pose the same problems as their larger cousins do, but they are lumped in with them in that prohibition originally aimed mostly at commercial urban hogging operations.

On Sept. 12, the Town of Canton continued discussion on amendments to its animal ordinance that might permit pigs as pets.

Although response from the board appeared to be favorable in general, practical questions arose regarding weight limits, licensing procedures, and number of pigs allowable in one home.

No action was taken at the meeting, but the board may consider the issue at an upcoming meeting.

Smokey Mountain News Logo
SUPPORT THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS AND
INDEPENDENT, AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM
Go to top
Payment Information

/

At our inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. We don’t plan to change that model. Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News.

The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Your support of SMN does not constitute a charitable donation. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us.