ESSEX, Vt. -
Inside a home in Essex live a man and a woman, and get this… 47 pet pigs. All 47 pigs live indoors, and now because of numerous complaints and zoning violations, they all need new homes.
Although all 47 of the pigs were just darling and their owner is clearly passionate, neighbors say that many, is too many.
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It's a beautiful home in a nice part of Essex, but as you get closer, there's an odor… and just over the kitchen counter, you can see why… 47 pigs live here, but all of them have to go.
"They are my family and now we desperately need really good homes," Florence Gruber said.
Gruber has been breeding miniature pigs for three years. After neighbors in New York forced her out, her and her snout nosed family landed in Essex, in September.
"We thought the pigs were legal here," Gruber said. Turns out, they aren't, so neighbors, like Mary Thomas made several complaints. "Property value will go down," Thomas said. Thomas says she also has health concerns. "I cannot imagine anybody putting pigs in a house," Thomas added.
Because Gruber is violating zoning ordinances, the town is giving her until January 22nd to have the one hundred pound pigs, the piglets, and all of the pigs in between that have taken over the kitchen, living room, and bedrooms gone.
"It's devastating, devastating," Gruber said.
None of the pigs are farm animals, they're all house pets, and although donations are accepted, she's really just looking for them to have a good home.
"They do use litter boxes like a cat and they can be trained to go outside like a puppy," Gruber said.
But Thomas doesn't buy it."You can make a horse into a house pet if you wanted!"
Gruber argues the dirty, dumb and lazy reputation pigs have is a misconception. She's considering buying land elsewhere and continuing to breed pet pigs.
If the animals aren't adopted they'll end up in a shelter, because Gruber says they certainly won't be makin' bacon!
But before you can own the next Porky, Wilbur or Babe… You have to check with your town or city's planning and zoning department. Essex - as we've learned restricts residents from owning farm animals if their lot is a certain size or within a certain proximity to other homes… and even then, one or two pigs would be the limit! Burlington on the other hand, lets pig lovers own up to four miniature house pet-pigs at a time... but that's it!
"That amount of pigs living inside your home, it's just not healthy, it's not healthy for the animals, it's not healthy for the people living there," Essex Planning and Zoning Administrator Sharon Kelley said.
Again, if you're looking to adopt one of these little guys... you may also need to submit an application, so be sure to check with your planning and zoning department so you don't end up in hot water!
If you're interested in adopting a pig, go to www.cutiepigs.com or call Florence Gruber at 802-871-5990.
