Warning over farmyard animals in back gardens

Farmyard animals bought as pets by families looking to live the "Good Life" in Staffordshire are being abandoned or neglected, animal welfare officers revealed today.

A warning went out after two pigs were found being kept in a children's Wendy house in Cannock. County bosses say they have been deluged with calls from disillusioned owners wanting to offload their livestock pets.

Other animals, including chickens, goats and ducks, have been discovered living in inappropriate surburban settings.

The problem is now so serious that the county council has launched an awareness campaign to highlight the issue and is running a welfare workshop in Codsall next month.

The authority says complaints from neighbours about noise and smells are on the rise. It also warns that owners are risking spreading infection through a failure to properly care for the animals.

County councillor Pat Corfield, cabinet member for communities, said the council was working with district environmental health departments to run Farm Animals in Your Back Garden workshops.

"Staffordshire may be a long way from Surbiton but we have seen a huge increase in the numbers of families opting to keep farm animals in more residential areas," he said.

"Often people go into this with the best of intentions but have little real understanding of the time and costs involved. Our own animal health team is now being inundated with calls where the novelty has worn off and the owner no longer wants the animal."

He said there had been two separate cases in just the past week involving pigs that were no longer wanted, and rehoming such animals was proving increasingly difficult.

"Pigs are not domestic pets. They need to have the right accommodation, plenty of room to exercise and regular vet checks. People need to fully understand what they are taking on," he said.

The council reports that many people do not realise they need permits for some farmyard animals.