One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Pigs, Even Cute Pot-Bellied Ones, Now Banned In Seal Beach
(Photo by Steshkin Yevgeniy / Shutterstock)
Sorry, pig owners in Seal Beach. The party is over.
Until Monday, the city's Municipal Code banned only hogs, not pigs, but now that loophole has been closed, the OC Register reports.
The previous code banned hogs over 120 pounds, a definition that couldn't legally be applied to smaller pigs.
After trying for nine months to convince one pig owner to get rid of his pet because of several complaints about its "noise and odor," the city council voted 4-0 in favor of adding pigs to the livestock ban, regardless of size, kind or cuteness.
Jim Basham, director of Community Development, told the Register, "We couldn't gain compliance with this gentlemen (who was) letting the animal run free."
One resident who was in favor of the ban showed off a picture of the offending animal, saying, "This is not a farm, this is our town. That's not a pet, that's animal husbandry. That's a big animal."
While no one spoke against the ban during the meeting, pig advocate Teresa Sieh told the Register, "I don't really understand a ban on pigs because they really are one of the few animals that can be potty trained."
Sponsored message
She's the general manager at Orange feed shop Wagon Train, which offers pig feed and had a three-week-old piglet available. She advises potential pig owners to check local laws to see if they're zoned for pigs before buying one.
The Seal Beach Animal Care Center said it will likely turn over any pigs to the Long Beach Animal Control or find another institution that would take in the hooved critters.
Seal Beach's ordinance will go into effect 30 days after a second reading.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
