Wilbur the pig has been Cristy Matteo's pet for almost five years. But after someone called and complained to the city, a Health Department inspector issued a violation saying that Matteo was unlawfully harboring a wild animal, and that Wilbur had to go.
"It’s very emotional," Matteo said. "He's like my child."
Wilbur is registered as an emotional support animal both for Cristy and for her father who is battling cancer.
"He was keeping my father's stress levels down so he was taking less anxiety medication because Wilbur was helping him through some stressful times," she said.
Matteo tells us her stress only increased with a trips to court. She won the first battle and the case was dismissed.
But her troubles weren’t over. In August 2016, The department of Health and Mental Hygiene overturned that first ruling. We reached out to a spokesperson who said:
"The Health Code prohibits pigs to be kept as pets in New York City. In 2009, the Board of Health reaffirmed that pigs should remain on the list of prohibited animals because, among other reasons, there is no USDA-approved rabies vaccine for pigs.”
Now Matteo is being forced to get rid of Wilbur by the end of January or he will be seized by officials.
"It's not good, I have a place in North Carolina willing to take him, but he belongs here with me, he's not an outside pig at all," Matteo said.
Now Matteo is hoping a bill, sponsored by State Senator Tony Avella, will quickly pass that will legalize pigs as pets as long as they're under 200 pounds.
"I had the Assemblyman, the Senators, write me letters, just asking for an exemption for right now," Matteo said. "I just pray to God that it comes through, and Wilbur gets to stay with me."