[Mr Pig]

See the following: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/article6967996.ece

[shetlandpaul]

were to start. whats the point. lets just say that they should not have got them. this is the same mentality as the micro pigs. stupid and possibly dangerous. imagine a 150lb porker get cross with the toddler.

[Rosemary]

Oh, dear. I hope the temporary corridor through the living room holds up or there will be an almighty mess.

Would YOU have sold them weaners?

[HappyHippy]

Bloody hell ! 
Sorry for the outburst - but really? 
Shame on the smallholder for selling them, shame on the council for giving a CPH when the only way to access the garden is through the flat.
No, NO, NOOOOOO ! and also I have to say, shame on the times for running this story and providing lots of other people in the same situation with the downright stupid idea that they could possibly do this too.
I'm all for people keeping livestock - but it has to be appropriate for them to do so, taking into account how much space, knowledge and foresight they have.
How on earth did he NOT know what they would do to his garden 

[bigchicken]

Ba Humbug! not the ideal place for some so what, have you ever seen intensively reared pigs. I bet you these pigs were happy and in my book thats find.

[scattybiker1972]

can you imagine the stress these poor animals are going to go through being herded by burly men into a people carrier? 

[Hilarysmum]

If they take them in a people carrier will they be accepted at the abbatoir?  I know here they are very firm about what mode of transport the animals arrive in.

[marigold]

That's living in London for you - stress city!

[Weedy]

Oh Boy!
 You do just have to query the sanity of some people don't you? And, wether or not they actualy think these things through? What an earth were the authortise thinking? Total berwilderment it's just so hard to beleave someone could be so irresponceable .

Cheers Weedy

[Rosemary]

I suspect the pigs have had the life of Riley and will follow a bucket on to whatever mode of transport they use.

I don't think a people carrier will be IT - it can't be used as it can't be pressure washed. Apart from all the other reasons why it's not suitable.

I agree they didn't think this through but, to be honest, their irresponsibility seems to have impacted on them rather than the pigs. In the whole scheme of the impact of irresponsibility, I think this ranks pretty low down.

[herdsman]

Oh Boy!
 You do just have to query the sanity of some people don't you? And, wether or not they actualy think these things through? What an earth were the authortise thinking? Total berwilderment it's just so hard to beleave someone could be so irresponceable .

Cheers Weedy

Unfortunately its not the authorities fault. Anyone can get a cph number(no inspection needed). Any one can keep whatever animals they like as long as they are not on the list of wild or endangered animals. Urban Local authorities will only repsond if there is a complaint and rural ones will only be checking that the regs re feeding waste etc are understood. If there is an obvious welfare problem they may take action but it is very expensive to take someone to court over welfare so you have to know its a case you will win.
I think the pigs have had a ball, the owners have paid the price with thewrecking of the garden and I reckon if they did it regularly the novelty would wear off with the neighbours and they would soon have the council round about smells rats etc.

There will probably be a protest group at the gate holding up signs to save the pigs on the day they go.