Hog Heaven : Supervisors’ Version of Pork-Barrel Legislation Would Let This Piggy Stay Home

Pushing ahead with its own brand of pork-barrel legislation, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday requested the drafting of a law to make it legal to own pigs in unincorporated residential neighborhoods.

Not just any hogs--only domesticated Vietnamese potbellied pigs, which have gained a reputation among their owners as being clean, well mannered and intelligent.

The County Code currently outlaws the keeping of “any live pig or hog of any age . . . for the personal use of the occupant or otherwise” in neighborhoods under county jurisdiction.

The new law, prompted by one persistent pig owner, will receive final consideration in about a month. It would exempt the increasingly popular potbellied pigs and probably also include height and weight limitations, to assure that serious porkers don’t invade residential areas.

“Championship hogs can get pretty big and pretty heavy,” said Bob Ballenger, a spokesman for the county Department of Animal Care and Control. “I don’t think anybody thinks they are a suitable animal to be kept in a residential area.”

The normally reserved supervisors unanimously approved the drafting of the revision amid a good deal of chortling.

“This is the story of the day: Potbellied pigs, or not?” exclaimed Supervisor Kenneth Hahn. Supervisor Mike Antonovich added: “Pig power!”

In the unincorporated community of Charter Oaks near Covina, however, the issue had been no laughing matter for one pig enthusiast.

“I never would have dreamed that one person could make a difference,” said Lin Elkins, who had lobbied heavily for the supervisors’ action. Chazzer Lee, her pink, 8-month-old piglet sat nearby, snorting. “Chazzer Lee, we are legal!” Elkins called to the pig.

The 42-year-old gift shop owner had no idea how much trouble she was in for when she acquired Chazzer Lee last summer.

Elkins said that she recently had to have her cocker spaniel euthanized and that she was too traumatized to get another dog. She had always been fascinated with pigs--accumulating a collection of more than 100 china porkers, along with a pig mobile and a pig mailbox.

Her teen-age daughter saw Chazzer Lee one day in a pet store and Elkins fell in love, paying $833 for her new pet.

Soon the divorced mother of two and her pig were “best friends.” They watched television and ate popcorn together, shared the same bed and even showered together.

But after two months of bliss, a county animal control officer arrived in August and issued a citation. Apparently, a neighbor had seen Elkins walking her pig.

A Citrus Municipal Court judge waived fines and jail time, but Elkins had to exile Chazzer Lee to a friend’s house in San Bernardino.

Neither pig nor owner was happy. Chazzer Lee lost eight pounds in two weeks, Elkins said. She added, “I was hysterical. I was crying every day. I took off work. People don’t understand the bond that comes up between a human and a pig.”

Elkins attempted to get a variance to the County Code, but was told that wasn’t likely. Next, she went to Antonovich’s office.

“I said, ‘I don’t want to live like this,’ ” Elkins said. “This is the United States. People are walking around killing each other and there are drunk drivers all over the road. And all I wanted was a little pig.”