HOUSTON – A local family says they're being forced to get rid of a pet they consider to be a member of the family.
The family pet is a potbellied pig. The city of Richwood in Brazoria County says it doesn't matter and the pig has got to go.
Families will oftentimes have a cat or a dog as a pet, but for Rachel Cantu's family, they have a 200-pound potbellied pig named Bronx.
"It doesn't really matter what he is, he's mine. He is my family," Cantu said.
The city of Richwood has an ordinance saying anything in the swine family is prohibited within city limits. A code enforcement officer saw the pig a few days ago and sent a letter to the family.
The letter says the pig has to go by the end of the month.
"I'm an animal person, you know, so I just feel responsible. He's family. I don't know any other way to say it," said Cantu.
Cantu did appeal, but this week the city ruled the ordinance stands "as is."
The Cantu's say they are going to pack up and move out of this community because they don't want to get rid of Bronx.