Mayor could get pet pig back

Mayor Bob Crowell could get back his nearly blind, arthritic pet pot-bellied pig if supervisors approve the city health department's proposed updated animal ordinance on Thursday. Supervisors would have to pass the ordinance a second time to make it law.

Crowell had to give away Arnold during his successful run for Carson City mayor this fall. Livestock, including pot-bellied pigs, are currently not allowed in most residential areas of the city.

Crowell said he'll try to bring Arnold home if the ordinance passes.

"I'll go talk to Arnold to see if he's happy where he's at or if wants to come home," Crowell said, laughing. "He can make his own decision."

Arnold is staying with an animal rescue group. The city has declined to name the group.

The health department's updated ordinance would allow people with less than one acre of residential land to keep as pets or for educational purposes up to two pot-bellied pigs under 150 pounds each, four female chickens or four female ducks.

Crowell said Arnold is under the weight limit. The pig is about the size of a big dog at 80 or 90 pounds, he said.

"I may kid and say he's a big fat hog, but he's really not," Crowell said.

City Health Director Marena Works said updating the ordinance was long overdue. The city hasn't looked at serious revisions to the ordinance in several years, she said.

Works said the change was not based on Crowell's situation.

"That certainly brought it to light, but it's not a brand new idea," she said.

Steve McClung, one of five other candidates for mayor last year, got rid of 12 chickens because of the current ordinance.

He said he won't get any more if the ordinance is changed, however. Chickens are difficult to care for in the winter because their feet can freeze, he said.

McClung said he would recommend one easy way to find out what to do about the animal code:

"They should put it on the ballot and let voters decide," he said.군