Pet pig not allowed to go to work

Reporter: Nicole Bradley
Date online: 24 January 2011

A Ramsbottom shop owner has been told that his pet pig is no longer allowed to go to work with him.

Lee White runs Whites of Ramsbottom, and takes his micro-pig, Patrick, to work with him five or six times a week.

He has two licenses that say he can keep him as a pet at home and at work, but if the pet is to enter his work, he has to stay there for 20 days in case of disease outbreak.

Mr White has two campaigns running, one to free the “Rammy One”, where he thinks that the animal should be treated as a pet, as the micro-pig is a recognised pet. The other is to amend the law that says he has to be kept at each house for 20 days.

Mr White said: “Patrick has been bred, bought and born as a pet. He hasn’t been near any other livestock; he only lives with me and my wife.

“Lots of our customers come from all over, just to see Patrick.

“The law should be relaxed to allow micro-pigs to be able to walk on the streets, when people see horses they don’t question it. Why should a micro-pig be any different? It is a stupid law and needs changing”

He hopes that creating awareness of this case could make the authorities see sense.