Residents and neighborhood committee members in a residential area along Pingxingguan Road in Zhabei District are confused about what to do with an American resident who is raising an oversized pet that many say would make a breakfast more than companion.

The pet in question is Porky, a black-and-white pig.

The pig's owner Danny, who wouldn't give his last name, said he bought Porky nearly two years ago when he was living in Hangzhou, in Zhejiang Province. At the time, he was told the animal was a fragrant mini pig, which wouldn't grow very big. At that time Danny could hold the pig in one arm.

Over the past two years, however, Porky has grown to 1.2 meters long and weighs at 80 kilograms.

While Danny says he doesn't mind keeping the pig in his rented apartment, some of his neighbors aren't pleased with the situation.

They think the pig is not sanitary and will attract mosquitoes in the summer. And it's too big, one resident said.

Local officials and police have talked to the American several times about giving up the pig, but he has steadfastly refused.

"To tell the truth, I also think the pig is lovely," said an official surnamed Wang. "We just feel it is not suitable for him to raise such a big pig in the residential area."

Danny counters that Porky is one of his best friends. He washes the hog every day to ensure it doesn't smell, he said.

While the city has rules against residents raising many farm animals in their homes, officials say they aren't sure if an oversized mini pig can be a pet or not.

"That is why we don't know how to deal with the pig now because there is no rule that stipulates one can not raise a pig as pet," an official from the neighborhood committee said.

(eastday.com March 26, 2004)