Help us Legalize
Miniature Pigs as
Pets!
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.
click photos to enlarge
Help us Legalize
Miniature Pigs
as Pets!
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.
click photos to enlarge