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State senator helping Queens family keep its pet pig
Photo credit: (Facebook)
A Queens family is getting help from a state pol to keep its pet pig Petey, which is banned by city law.
Danielle Forgione, who lives in Whitestone with her family, purchased Petey in April to help her children cope with the death of their uncle and their grandfather's battle with cancer.
But the Department of Health and Hygiene's ban on "the possession and/or harboring of pig species" forced the family to either get rid of the pig or move someplace where its legal. The Forgiones chose to move, but they are still trying to change the law.
"Pet pigs are gaining popularity and recognition as great pets," Forgione said, because of their "cleanliness, diminutive size, friendly disposition and intelligence."
"Even though we are being forced to relocate with our pet pig, we are still going to fight to have the law amended," Forgione said.
The family set up a Facebook page to support Petey, which had more than 430 "likes" last night, and it had previously set up a Change.org petition lobbying for amending the law.
State Sen. Tony Avella is calling on the Department of Health and Hygiene to re-examine the law that is forcing the Forgione family to move. "Not only is the pig house-trained and well-behaved, it has helped the children deal with some very traumatic events," Avella said Tuesday.
"Petey has become a member of their family and the city should first explore options that would let the family keep him, rather than threaten to get rid of it," he said.
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