Pig Gets a Day in Court
Wilber is a one-and-a-half-year-old Vietnamese pot-bellied pig who was being evicted by a Houston Texas Home Owner Association (HOA) known as the Cypresswood Community Improvement Association. Wilber lives with the Sardo family and they were informed in a letter on April 6, 2011 that their Association wanted Wilber removed from their home and threatened to file a lawsuit. The reasoning behind the letter was that pot-bellied pigs are livestock and are not “common” or “traditional” pets and are therefore forbidden by Association rules.
The case against Wilber came down to a clause in the Association’s by laws regarding ownership of pets as domestic animals commonly and traditionally kept as household pets and shall not include any wild, semi-wild, or semi-domesticated animal.
The Sardo family filed suit to declare that this particular pig breed is a “household pet” and should be able to remain in their home. Our ancestors domesticated pigs to primarily provided food but pigs are very smart animals and are very sociable. Potbelly pigs have been a popular pet for many decades in the US and the North American Potbellied Pig Association was organized in 1989 to provide information to owners and breeders about these animals.
On Monday, Harris District Court Judge Mike Engelhart ruled in favor of the Sardo family. The judge stated that this pig breed is considered a household pet and they are not used for commercial purposes. I think we need to forget about his being about a pig for a moment and look at the broader issue of homeowner’s associations and residents, Engelhart said. Homeowner’s associations are there, on one hand, to maintain a neighborhood in a particular way, but they also have responsibilities not to infringe too much on homeowner’s use of their land the way they see fit.
Mitchell Katine represented the family in the lawsuit and said “Monday’s ruling marked the first time a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig has been recognized as a pet in court, but it also set a precedent to let homeowners associations know they cannot micro-manage their residents.”
Noted in the Association’s rules, a majority of residents can amend the bylaws to include pot-bellied pigs as an acceptable household pet but so far this has not happened. While the family waited for the ruling Missy and Alex Sardo waited nerviously but were happy with the outcome Oh my gosh. It’s just unbelievable, Missy said after she heard the news. It’s wonderful. Wilber Sardo the pot-bellied pig has over 5,000 Facebook fans on his Facebook Page and has a “Wilber cam”with live feeds to his page.
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Miller moths are tasty — and not particularly harmful
Miller moths can be tasty little critters.
Bats love them. Swallows will hang out at well-lit intersections just waiting for a meal. The moths even have been known to be one of the favorite feasts of grizzly bears in Yellowstone National Park, according to Colorado State University.
The moths high-fat content makes them delectable even to household pets.
But can little Fido or that fluffy feline in the house need medical attention from gorging on the fluttery little nuisances, which have invaded the Pikes Peak region for two weeks?
Most of the time theres not much risk, said Dr. Anastasia Meadows, a veterinarian at Polo Springs Veterinary Hospital in Colorado Springs, who spent some time Wednesday afternoon studying possible consequences of eating miller moths.
Theres not even been a whole lot of published research, she said.
About the only possible risk, according to Meadows, is the threat of intestinal parasites. She said in extreme circumstances, pets could get round worms from eating a moth. But for that to happen, the moth would have had to have landed on animal feces outdoors and then just happen to be the pets snack of choice.
Meadows noted, however, that pets with round worms dont usually show symptoms, other than diarrhea in rare cases. And in the rarest of rare cases, the parasites can be transmitted to humans, possibly migrating into eyes or internal organs.
But dont be alarmed. The worst-case scenario is about as likely as winning the Mega Millions jackpot.
Its definitely a very low risk, Meadows said. But its something we like to educate people about.
The veterinarian said there might be one more ill effect pets could get from munching moths.
My own cat has been eating them quite frequently. Shes got food allergies and this week her skin has flared up, Meadows said, noting that Riley has itchy spots and has lost some hair. But I dont know if thats what its from.
The moth migration that has left the Pikes Peak region constantly swatting away the little buggers is only about two weeks into a six- to eight-week cycle, James Whidden, owner of Mug-A-Bug Pest Control in eastern Colorado Springs, said on April 23 when the invasion began.
Click here to see The Gazettes story from April 23
So when the pets start to munch, theres not much to do but sit back and know that theyre only helping curb the nuisance.
Contact Matt Steiner at 636-0362 or follow him on Twitter @gazsteiner.
05.18.12City advises neighborhood about sewer smoke test
Where theres smoke, theres not always fire.
Thats the message the citys sewer department is spreading to residents and businesses in the vicinity of Chicago and Pulaski streets.
The department plans to conduct smoke testing in the sewer system in that area, beginning at 9 am Friday.
The test involves using smoke bombs to locate breaks and defects in the sewer network, according to city engineer Mark Mathon.
The smoke that you may see coming from vent stacks on houses or holes in the ground is relatively harmless and creates no fire hazard, Mathon wrote in a notice being distributed to those who live and do business in that area.
The smoke, he added, isnt 100 percent harmless, since it can cause irritation to nasal passages.
any unnecessary exposure to the smoke should be avoided, the notice said. Persons with heart and/or respiratory ailments should leave the home during the test.
Household pets should be given proper ventilation or be removed from the home during the testing, Mathon added.
The smoke should not enter your home or business unless you have defective plumbing or dried-up drain traps, the city notice said. If this occurs, you should contact a licensed plumber to correct the problem. In any event, if the relatively harmless smoke can enter your home or business through faulty plumbing, the potential exists for dangerous sewer gases to enter your home or business.
Mathon said the presence of test smoke in a home or business should be reported immediately to him at 217-280-0429 or wastewater facility manager Darrell Palmer 732-4030.
If you have any seldom-used drains, please pour water in the drain to fill the trap prior to the anticipated dates of testing. This will prevent sewer gases or odors from entering your home or business, Mathon added.
05.17.12Florence Gruber of Paulsboro charging spaying, neutering costs for adopted pot …
Municipal Judge William Golden on Monday ruled Gruber must get her pigs off her property within 30 days.
Officials had charged that Gruber violated a borough ordinance prohibiting people from keeping farm-type animals on residential properties.
Although her attorney argued that the miniature pot belly pigs are really more household pets and dont bring the same issues as larger, traditional farm swine, Golden chose not to try to stretch the ordinances meaning.
At least some neighbors, worried their property values would drop, also complained of a stench and late-night noise.
Gruber as of Tuesday was still thinking of appealing Goldens decision. If she does so, his ruling would be stayed until a Superior Court judge makes a decision on the appeal.
05.16.12Natural Pet Supply Store Opens Doors on Main Street
A natural pet food and supply store opens its doors in downtown Lisle on Monday.
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Thorntons All Pet Pantry, 4910A Main St., will offer organic food for most common household pets, as well as vitamins and hygiene products.
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Pet Pantry briefly operated a storefront earlier this year in downtown Lemont. Owner Tom Thornton shared a space with pet grooming business Critter Cleaners, according to a report from Lemont Patch. Thornton told Lemont Patch he ended his business agreement with the grooming business, and began looking for a new storefront.
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Thornton has continued free pet food and supply delivery to customers in Lemont, Lisle, Bolingbrook, Glen Ellyn, Naperville, Wheaton, and Woodridge.
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Thornton is a Lisle resident and also maintains Snaggle Foot of Lisle, which offers dog walking and pet care services.
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Pet Pantry is open 10 am – 7 pm on Monday. Find more information on the business on Thorntons All Pet Pantry Facebook page.
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Subscribe to Patchs newsletter for updates on this business.
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05.16.12No action against killer dog – owner fined RM1,000
The owner of the dog which attacked and killed a jogger in Subang Jaya on Tuesday has been fined RM1,000 for negligence by the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ).
MPSJ deputy corporate director Azfarizal Abdul Rashid said the owner was found to have been negligent in looking after the dog as required under licensing by-laws.
“Although the dog was licensed, the owner allowed the animal to roam freely outside his premises,” he said.
The dog attacked and killed Yip Sun Wah, 74, while he was jogging in SS19 Subang Jaya.
Subang Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Yahaya Ramli said no action would be taken against the dog, which is now under the custody of the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), until police complete investigations into the case.
He said they were waiting for the post-mortem and DVS reports on the incident.
Canine welfare group Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better rescue coordinator Irene Low urged the authorities to step up efforts to prevent restricted and banned breeds from being sold to the public.
Selangor Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals called on the veterinary department to impose strict guidelines on the care and treatment of restricted dogs.
Among the recommended guidelines were for the dogs to be immediately neutered, not be caged or chained for more than four hours each day and to be provided proper obedience training.
“The DVS must also hold breeders and shops selling such breeds accountable,” it said in a statement.
DVS director-general Abdul Aziz Jama luddin said his enforcement unit would check on all pet shops to see if they were selling banned and restricted dogs.
He had said that restricted breeds were not suitable as household pets and were only meant for the use of military and enforcement agencies.
05.15.12First round of Harford rabies vaccination clinic ‘big success,’ more clinics …
Health officials in Harford County say they are concerned about a cyclical rise in rabies cases showing up in the county.
While the numbers are nothing like those in the mid-1980s, when reported rabies cases in Harford topped the entire United States, it never hurts to be cautious, officials say, and theres an easy way to prevent the dreaded disease from spreading to household pets and other domestic animals: Get them vaccinated.
Harford Countys Health Department held its first round of pet rabies vaccination clinics Sunday, and another round is coming up this Sunday.
Last Sundays clinics at the Equestrian Center in Bel Air, Susquehanna Hose Company House 4 in Havre de Grace, the Abingdon Volunteer Fire Company and Whiteford Volunteer Fire Company were all well-attended, health department officials said.
05.15.12Family beats HOA in suit over pet pig
This little piggy can stay at home.
Wilbur, a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig that a Spring homeowners association wanted to kick out of a familys home, doesnt have to move, a Harris County district court judge ruled Monday.
The Sardo familys 1½-year-old pig has been the subject of a lawsuit filed by his family to declare him a “household pet” so he can continue living in their subdivision. The Thicket at Cypresswood Community Improvement Association argued that the pig violates its rules, which forbid pets that are not “common” and “traditional.”
District Judge Mike Engelhart ruled that evidence is clear that this pig breed is considered a household pet and that they are not used for commercial purposes. He also said the dispute puts a spotlight on homeowners associations restrictions and residents property rights.
“I think we need to forget about this being about a pig for a moment and look at the broader issue of homeowners associations and residents,” Engelhart said. “Homeowners associations are there, on one hand, to maintain a neighborhood in a particular way, but they also have responsibilities not to infringe too much on homeowners use of their land the way they see fit.”
Alex Sardo gave his wife, Missy, a 7-week-old Wilbur in December 2010 as a Christmas gift. The homeowners association sent a letter to the family April 6, 2011, saying they had violated the rules after neighbors brought the pig to the associations attention. In August, it gave the Sardo family 30 days to get rid of the pig and threatened to file a lawsuit.
The family then sued the association. In question was the associations regulations permitting household pets that are not used or bred for commercial purposes. Household pets are defined in the rules as “domestic animals commonly and traditionally kept as household pets and shall not include any wild, semiwild or semidomesticated animal.”
During the hourlong hearing, Mitchell Katine, an HOA specialist representing the family in the lawsuit, set out to prove that Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs have been bred and kept as household pets and used for nothing else for years.
He provided testimony from two experts who said the breed of pig in question is considered a pet.
Mark Rabe, attorney for the association, argued in court Monday that it wasnt necessary for an expert to determine what a “common and traditional” pet is. He said the associations regulation implies there is a critical mass of pig ownership that needs to be reached in order for the animal to be considered common.
He noted that within the rules of the association, a majority of residents could amend the restrictions to include a pot-bellied pig, but that has not happened. He also said a Houston ordinance, which does not apply to the subdivision in Spring, prohibits pigs as household pets.
Katine said Mondays ruling marked the first time a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig has been recognized as a pet in court, but it also set a precedent to let homeowners associations know they cannot micromanage their residents.
Rabe declined to comment on the ruling and said he would not discuss details about further action.
erin.mulvaney@chron.com
05.14.12Pictures and Videos of Pets Big Hit Online
Pictures and Videos of Pets Big Hit Online
Pet lovers are having the time of their lives online as the internet is proving to be a showcase for funny and endearing animal pictures and videos.
As anyone who is online can attest to there are videos of the cutest and funniest animals around doing some of the most amazing things. Every day hundreds if not thousands of these pics and videos go viral garnering millions of hits and views not to mention a monstrous amount of shares on social networking sites like Facebook and such.
From household pets who talk to zoo residents who engage in comical hijinks, these pictures and videos of animals at play or even doing courageous deeds are so popular that many have become celebrities and many have been the point of turning the media into avenues for more interest in animal rights issues.
Thanks to these videos the public has for the first time been able to share these fantastic events with one another so that the public can understand animal behavior. You have people comparing notes on animal behavior which helps them understand nature and how mankind interacts. Youve got videos of giant turtles over 100 years old walking up on people picnicking and sunning themselves. You have deer dancing around in backyards of suburban homes while the household dog joins in on the fun. There are videos of giant bears playing on swing sets or leaping into swimming pools. Horses picking people up by the seat of their pants and tossing them into hay bales. The most popular are the cute animal and battle videos.
There are so many cute Pomeranian and chihuahua videos online you can spend weeks just watching them all. The toy dog circuit is a big hit and when one of the cuddly critters does something extra cute like taking a nap with the baby of the house or resting on grandmas head the videos shoot around the web like wildfire. Some of these animals are so enduring that they have their own fan clubs. Some have Facebook pages or Twitter accounts where fans tune in 24/7 to see their latest exploits and engage with other fans.
When it comes to animals fighting in the wild its a different story. Here you have animals doing what nature calls for regarding battling for survival. When the battles involve mankind it opens dialogue about what we can do to prevent and remedy them. When animals get injured in these videos, veterinarians can see how best to treat them. Fans of animals can find out how to help out with donations and services. When videos appear of dog fighting or other venues where people put animals in combative situations the law enforcement agencies can better track down the culprits thanks to tips from viewers.
In addition, pet rescue centers now have access to the public where they can post videos of animals that need owners. These adoption and rescue centers are non-profits that now have a way to reach the public have seen unprecedented success and support.
All in all the expansion of these great videos and pictures are bringing the animal kingdom closer to the human kingdom and its turning into an excellent education for all.
Online News Heard Now
Image: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
05.3.12
RWA Ventures LLC Creates Online Community and Shopping Center for Pet Owners
HONOLULU, April 19, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ –
Hawaii-based internet retailer of pet products, RWA Ventures LLC, today announced the launch of a new Web site geared towards pet owners:
www.RWApetsupply.com .
RWApetsupply.com offers a variety of products for household pets such as dogs, cats, aquatic animals and birds. Products found on the site include bedding, carriers, cages, feeders, bowls, toys, grooming products, shampoos, medication, food, treats, and many other miscellaneous items.
Founded in 2012, RWA Ventures LLC is committed to providing pet owners with safe products for their animals. The company plans on expanding the amount of products found on the site within the near future.
Additionally, RWApetsupply.com connects with customers through social media platforms such as Google+, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. The new site enables visitors to “share” products with friends and family outside of the Web site.
RWApetsupplies.com also hosts a blog, where site visitors and customers will soon be able to read about various pet topics and interact with one another. RWApetsupplies.com accepts all major credit cards, and returning customers can create a personal username and password for faster order processing.
For more information on RWA Ventures LLC, and its new online store of pet products, visit
www.RWApetsupply.com .
SOURCE RWA Ventures LLC
Copyright (C) 2012 PR Newswire. All rights reserved
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