7 hours ago
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What a ham!
A Staten Island pet pig turned local celebrity was pardoned by Mayor Eric Adams Monday following the swine’s dramatic dispute with health officials.
Lucy the pygmy pig’s proud owner, Lori Anne Gannone, got the call from First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro that Hizzoner declared Lucy would get to live out her last years at home.
“I want to thank him,” Gannone, a Tottenville resident, said of Adams to SILIVE.
“Lucy’s so happy. This way she can just get healthy and get back to herself.”
The 15-year-old pygmy, who is currently receiving medical care in her advanced age, was at risk of being evicted from her home after a neighbor filed a 311 complaint in early June — and it wasn’t just the neighbor squealing.
The city Health Department got involved — seeking to enforce a law that bans pigs as pets in the Big Apple. The agency threatened Lucy’s family with her removal or a hefty fine of up to $18,000.
“I don’t understand. How is this a problem? Gannone had previously told The Post of Lucy’s predicament. “My pig is sick. I’m renovating my home upstate. So, she needs to be here because she’s pretty much, you know, on her way out.”
The community went hog-wild at the news, and it wasn’t long before the hashtag #SaveLucy was making waves on social media. Concerned animal lovers even started a petition that garnered over 13,000 signatures to let the hog stay.
Local officials got involved and quickly turned up the heat on City Hall — Councilmember Frank Morano, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis and even Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa joined in the call Saturday to stop the hogwash.
“Here’s the squeal: Lucy the Pig is staying on Staten Island with her family to receive medical care. We won’t be fining them or taking enforcement action at this time as it’s clear Lucy is cared for and not causing any disruptions to the community,” Adams wrote on X about the decision to save Lucy — though he noted there was a catch.
“Pig ownership is still against the law in New York City. Once Lucy is well again, her family will be returning her to their second home upstate,” the mayor said.
“We welcome all tourists coming to NYC, but please keep your boar-ists at home.”
English (US)