You can not help but hear about the latest craze for so called ‘micro pigs’ or ‘mini pigs’. Cambridgeshire Trading Standards urge prospective purchasers to look into how to keep the animals happy and healthy as well as the legal requirements before buying one.
The ‘micro’ or ‘mini’ pig is not a breed of pig, and can conjure up ideas in people’s minds regarding the size of such pigs. Such pigs are a mixture of breeds, and because of this, piglets may not be guaranteed to grow to, or stay at a particular size or type.
Many of these little pigs are advertised showing pictures of cute piglets, however a pig does not reach adult height until it reaches two years of age and so it should not be assumed that a pig photographed at a few days old will remain small after two or three years.
As a pet pig owner, you will have a number of legal obligations. These include obtaining a holding number, registering your pig with Animal Health and keeping records of movement. If you want to walk your pet pig, you would need to apply for a ‘Walking Licence’ from Animal Health.
In terms of its care, it is illegal to feed kitchen scraps to your pet pig, and you should research the type and amounts of feed to be given to your pig to keep him in optimum condition.
Finally, the day will come when your pig goes to the ‘Sty in the Sky’. Unfortunately pigs as a species are not classified as pets, no matter how much time they spend curled up in a dog basket, and as such you will not be allowed to bury him in the garden. Pigs must be disposed of at an approved incineration plant. For further details of approved premises, please contact us on the details provided.