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antipodi
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Joined: 25 Jan 2006
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Tue Aug 15, 2006 12:40 am
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 Arnold the Pig faces eviction
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Arnold the Pig faces eviction
Melbourne, Australia 15 Aug 2006
A FIGHT for survival by a 160-kilogram pet pig named Arnold threatens to rewrite Victorian law in a legal battle that could end in the Supreme court.
Gentle giant Arnold, 4˝, who has a cult following in Eltham North, was deemed illegal livestock last year by the Nillumbik Shire Council.
His owner George Lazaridis was issued with a $500 infringement notice in November after being refused a permit to keep Arnold at home.
Lazaridis, 44, a panel beater, took offence to Arnold being deemed a smelly feral pig and a potential disease carrier.
He told Heidelberg Magistrates Court yesterday that Arnold, whom he and his wife Vicky have kept since he was a week old, was an odourless vegan who loved having his belly, nose and hair scratched.
A typical day for the couple and Arnold was ball play and tussles with a tyre, and "talking to him", according to Lazaridis.
"He's just as clever as if he were a dog," Lazaridis told magistrate Jill Crowe, who said backyard pig-keeping was "clearly a jurisdiction we don't pay enough attention to".
Lazaridis pleaded not guilty to a local law charge of keeping livestock on any residential land or any land less than 370 square metres in area.
Basil Stafford, prosecuting, said livestock was defined as animals used for primary production or kept for recreational purposes other than dogs, cats or birds.
Mr Stafford said pigs fell within the category and that Arnold was obviously livestock.
After Lazaridis applied for a permit, council inspectors surveyed neighbours and in September he was told his application had been refused.
He was charged after the infringement notice was issued and an inspection by officers found Arnold remained following a notice to comply with his removal.
Municipal laws officer Michael Keetch agreed with defence lawyer Bruce Miller that Lazaridis was told by the council that keeping Arnold on residential land would "detrimentally affect the general amenity of the neighbourhood".
He was also told that a pig on such land — deemed in a "green-wedge" municipality — would affect the "health and safety of persons and property".
Mr Miller described a letter, in which Arnold was described as a "feral pig", from the one neighbour who protested, as "rather emotional".
Mr Stafford objected, arguing it was irrelevant whether Arnold was a "wonderful or foul-smelling pig, a savage or gentle pig (because) it doesn't matter".
Mr Miller responded that his client might ultimately take his case to the Supreme Court to review council procedures. He submitted that no permit was required.
In evidence, Lazaridis said he never received the infringement notice or the notice to comply.
Ms Crowe commented that while the prosecution urged her to find Arnold was livestock, the legal definition of livestock was "not inclusive of all animals people keep as pets such as guinea pigs, rabbits and even goldfish".
She agreed a pig was livestock, but questioned how the legislation that deems livestock as anything other than dogs, cats and birds could "pick and choose" between livestock.
Ms Crowe adjourned her finding and invited the parties to make further submissions.
The case raised "interesting matters", she said.
Apparently poor piggy is now out and about to loose his family...please email the council on www.nillumbik.vic.gov.au/ and tell them how you feel
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Antipodi
May one day man and Animals live together in harmony and peace
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jsqueek
Site Admin
Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 808
Karma: +10 (10)
Location: UK
Tue Aug 15, 2006 4:43 am
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sometimes you just cant believe the fuss some people make 
pigs are reasonably clean animals and are as intelligent as a dog.
i will email with my opinion, hope it helps.
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js
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jsqueek
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Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 808
Karma: +10 (10)
Location: UK
Tue Aug 15, 2006 6:52 am
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infact i just sent 3, mine , hubby and my mum.
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js
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antipodi
Site Admin
Joined: 25 Jan 2006
Posts: 1141
Karma: +6 (6)
Tue Aug 15, 2006 11:47 am
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Thanx I was thinking of putting this article on other websites and starting up a storm of emails...
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Antipodi
May one day man and Animals live together in harmony and peace
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jsqueek
Site Admin
Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 808
Karma: +10 (10)
Location: UK
Tue Aug 15, 2006 11:52 am
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no problem and yes good idea
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js
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