To The Good Citizens of Petaluma And All Animal Lovers,

 

Please help us save our beloved family potbellied pigs Bubba, Shelly, Polly, and Bella. Our babies came to us from rescue situations.  Two were starved, one was dumped onto a busy street, and one requires medication for arthritis. They are clean and quiet animals that mostly live indoors. They enjoy the pleasures and comforts of their own home and each evening are tucked into their own custom designed beds. They are perfect Petaluma pet citizens who just happen to have hoofs and snouts rather than paws. We are only asking for the same rights and considerations that all other household pets within Petaluma enjoy.

Our family moved to Petaluma 16 years ago with our pigs in tow. We purchased a home in the Sonoma Glen subdivision, and have lived there happily without incident, always with our Sus Scrofa house pets. My beloved potbelly Lily and I took daily strolls throughout the neighborhood. We were always greeted with curiosity and goodwill by all of our neighbors.

Thus said, a neighbor, of over 12 years, decided to replace all of his fencing. He constructed a non-compliant fence, without permits, on three sections of his property and tried to force us into building the same. When we objected threats were made, “If you don’t accept this design I will have your hogs taken away.” When we refused, a complaint was made to animal control.

Petaluma animal control served us a pre-seizure notice citing us with violation of code section PMC 9.08.040/ keeping live hogs prohibitive. Although Petaluma’s potbellied pig ordinance was passed in 1992 with the intent of allowing ownership within all residential neighborhoods, this ordinance unfortunately was placed into the R1 zoning section not into Title 9 of the Municipal Code. Our subdivision, like all new subdivisions built within the last 16 years within Petaluma, was zoned PUD, so according to animal control, our precious pets are considered hogs, therefore prohibited.

A few months later we were sent a “Notice of Impoundment.” It was at that point we appealed to the City Council. The Council and City Manager unanimously agreed to stay the abatement notice until a review, to consider amendment, can be made. We thank them for their kindness.

Although Bubba, Shelly, Polly, and Bella have been temporarily spared, their long-term fate has yet to be resolved. The City Council ordered that “staff” review the zoning issue and the potbellied pig ordinance and report back to them. As a part of this process Petaluma Animal Control has complied a report named “Comparison Assessment on Potbellied Pig Ownership laws Comparable too Petaluma.” Prepared per the request of City Manager Mike Bierman, this report is highly flawed. To support their narrow view regarding our pets they have cherry picked 18 ordinances, nine of which classify potbellies as livestock or were written before potbellies were even brought into this country. As for the other half, most were drafted in the early ‘90s and are similarly flawed and out of date, just like Petaluma’s. They also failed to take into consideration allowable quantities of small animals i.e., dogs with potbellied pigs. This is critical because that is what we are trying to accomplish. They completely ignored any municipality that would have supported our position. If San Francisco, Sacramento, and Bakersfield can accept potbellies as they do dogs and cats, why can’t Petaluma? I urge you to sign our petition to “End Potbellied Pig Discrimination” http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/petalumapotbelliedpigs or write the City Council and ask them to put the “Pet” back in Petaluma and end this bias once and for all and allow our family to live in peace.

 

Respectfully,

Angelique Fry

Where is Petaluma, California? Petaluma, California is located in beautiful Sonoma County, Prestine Wine Country God's Country, as Luther Burbank referred to Sonoma County 35 Miles north of San Francisco. Population:  59,600