A PIG owner takes his two porkers for a walk — but can only go on a route approved by Government officials.
Josh Townsend, 32, is regularly seen with mini-pigs Billy and Franklyn strolling through the park although they must avoid shops, cafés and picnickers.
The IT manager has taught them the sort of tricks normally done by dogs.
But he cannot veer from the route in Cheltenham, Gloucs, licensed by the Environment DepartmentA spokesman said: “This licence is intended to minimise the risk of spread of disease.”
Guidance on pig ownership says: "Pigs are livestock and thus owners need to comply with all relevant animal health legislation. There are no exemptions for keeping pigs as pets.
"The place they are kept needs to be registered, the animals properly identified and movements recorded. Pigs can be walked under a licence issued by APHA and the route agreed in this licence is intended to minimise the risk of spread of disease between the pig being walked and other livestock.
"All animal keepers whether they keep livestock commercially or as pets should adopt high standards of biosecurity.
"Livestock kept as pets must not be fed meat or kitchen scraps as this is illegal.
"The Animal Welfare Act 2006 makes it an offence either to cause any captive animal unnecessary suffering or to fail to provide the welfare needs of the animal.
"For further information on keeping a pet pig or ‘micropig’, please see Government guidance."
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