600-Pound Pet Pig Prevails

The pig stays in the picture.

After nearly a year of worry over whether their 600-pound porky pet would be forced to leave their home, a Southwest Ranches family learned their prized pig won't be going anywhere.

Strawberri the pig is just a regular house pet for the Falk family in Southwest Ranches.

"She's just a big dog," owner Harmonee Falk said. But who knows any dogs that weigh 600 pounds?

The Falk family had been stressing out ever since a neighbor complained about their daughter Kai's pet pig last summer. That's when Southwest Ranches notified the Falk's that Strawberri was in violation of a town ordinance, and they'd have to either remove the pig or move out.

"I'm not the only one out here with a Yorkshire pig," said Falk.

Southwest Ranches' swine law only allowed potbellied pigs, banning Yorkshires like Strawberri. But now, all pigs are welcome in Southwest Ranches, after the town council voted unanimously Thursday night to change the ordinance.

"It was a relief, I'm excited it's over," said Falk. "It's something that should've happened a long time ago."

When Strawberri was small, Kai used to sleep with her in bed. But now the pig is way too big and stays out back in a barn. The Falk's have more than 20 animals in the barn, including horses, goats, chickens and turkeys. But Kai's favorite is Strawberri. So she is very happy that her pet pig gets to stay at home.

"She's very well kept, she has her own space, she's not cramped," Falk said. "She's not caged in, she's free to roam."

The Falks had threatened to move if the ordinance didn't get changed. In fact, they said they are still renting their home because it was too much of a risk to buy property with their pig's future in limbo.

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