NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- A Staten Island family is fighting to save their beloved emotional support pig after city health officials said the animal must be removed from their home.
Lori Ann Gannone and Michael Gannone—who call themselves a “pig mom” and a “pig dad”—have had Lucy the pig for 15 years. Michael got her for support while dealing with numerous surgeries.
But an anonymous caller filed a complaint to 311, and now the city health department has said the family will have to pay thousands of dollars in fines if she’s not removed from their house in Tottenville.
According to the city, pigs are illegal to have as pets. The family is now raising money for a lawyer to fight the city.
The legal battle is playing out as Lucy is in declining health due to her age and may have only months to live.
“She’s very ill and she needs to be treated,” Lori Ann Gannone said. “And I was never aware, because it’s an emotional support animal, that she was illegal to come here.”
The Gannones said they filed the correct paperwork and if the law has changed they weren’t notified about it.
“Got letters from the doctors that he’s allowed to have an emotional support pig,” Lori Ann Gannone said.
The family started a GoFundMe and Change.org petition, which has received thousands of signatures.
