Neighbours in bitter war of words over 'loud and smelly' pet pig
Michelle and Carl Repper adopted pet pig Jack six years ago and have raised the boar in their garden. But they were shocked to receive a complaint from their neighbour over the noise and smell
Neighbours are locked in a bitter row over a 'loud and smelly' pet pig that saw the owner hit with a nuisance complaint - but she insists it's a load of hogwash. Michelle and Carl Repper were shocked to receive a complaint from their neighbour over the noise and odour of their six-year-old Juliana pot-bellied pig Jack.
The couple adopted Jack six years ago after their friends mistook him for a micro pig, and have raised the boar in their garden ever since. Michelle, 44, says everyone in the neighbourhood loves little Jack and was shocked when one neighbour allegedly shouted through the fence to say the pig was 'disgusting'.
The mum-of-three then received a letter from South Holland District Council in Lincolnshire outlining an odour and nuisance complaint over their much-loved piggy. But Michelle claims Jack is the 'cleanest animal' and sleeps quietly for up to six hours a day in the garden - and says all he does is 'snore'.
Michelle, a teaching assistant, said the family would be 'devastated' if they were forced to rehome Jack, insisting that they would 'put up a fight' if the complaint escalated.
The council confirmed they had visited the pig twice and observed no issues however said the owner had 'taken steps to reduce the noise levels'. Michelle, who lives in Spalding, Lincolnshire, said: "He is like our dog, he's our pet. The neighbours have always known we've had Jack.
"Everybody loves Jack. The neighbours bring their leftover food from Sunday dinner over for him. Dog-walkers all ask about him. He's so gentle."
After going away for a few days last month, Michelle claims a neighbour began 'shouting at her' through the fence, branding Jack 'noisy and smelly'. But Michelle insists that her pet porker is quiet and clean, snoozing in his pen for the majority of the day.
Michelle said: "We left his wheelie bin in there and he does throw it around. When we got back, we apologised for it. When we got back, all of a sudden we could hear this lady shouting through a hole in the fence saying he was disgusting and she can't believe there's a pig in the garden.
"But we've had him for six years, not a couple weeks. She's always known we've had him. That's the first time anyone has ever said anything in six years. No one's said anything about the noise or smell before. Pigs are the cleanest animals.
"We've never had any issues with him. They said he's really noisy during the day but he actually sleeps for five to six hours during the day. He just sunbathes the whole day.
"All he does is snore. He's so quiet. My husband said 'rather than shouting from the fence, come around and have a decent conversation with us' but she just carried on shouting, so I went indoors."
Michelle, who says they have a licence to own and walk Jack, then received a letter from her local council over an alleged complaint concerning Jack's smell and noise levels.
Neighbours then voiced their concerns to the town's newspaper, saying the pig 'makes [their] life unbearable' and went on to describe their living situation as a 'tragedy'.
Michelle said: "Tragedy? I don't really know what to say about that. He's been here for six years. It's more gutting that it's come to this. I'm just baffled. She could've just come round to us and said he's really smelly and making loads of noise rather than making a complaint.
"There's got to be evidence of smell and my husband cleans that every other day. He always does it in the same spot. He's not defecating all around the garden. If we had to rehome him, it would be like someone giving away their dog.
"My husband and my girls would be devastated. He's just part of the furniture. We'd put up a fight [if they wanted to rehome him].
"I just wish they'd come and spoken to us. I've emailed the council to say you're welcome to come round and have a look at him. We've got nothing to hide."
A South Holland District Council spokesperson said: "We are aware of this case and have been in contact with APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency), who have confirmed that all the appropriate licences are in place.
"Our officers have visited the site on two occasions, during which no issues have been observed. The owner has taken steps to reduce the noise levels, and advice has been provided on how to correctly monitor and record concerns, to allow us to continue to investigate as required."
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