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Wednesday, May 30, 2012 1937 - 2012 · Celebrating 75 Years Orono Weekly Times - 3 Royal Canadian Sea Cadets of Port Hope held a practice for their annual inspection at the Newcastle Arena on Sunday afternoon. PIG Continued from front -ing animals stresses can trigger strong defensive instincts and the pig will "defend its turf to the death." The report states that while this may sound dramatic, coupled with the significant size of the adult pigs; a stressed pig could pose a safety threat. An emotional Mrs. Willoughby flanked by four of her seven children, begged councillors on Monday to create a grandfather clause to the Exotic Pet By-law allowing Toby to live out the rest of his natural life with his family. She assured councillors that as a responsible pet owner she researched Toby's background before she received him as a gift, and Toby would not get any bigger than 50 pounds. The family owned the pet before they moved into Clarington, not realizing potbellied pigs were considered exotic pets in the municipality. Willoughby presented councillors a petition of 176 names of people in her neighbourhood who supported the family and their desire to keep the pet pig. One of the Willoughby's abutting neighbours also appeared before councillors on Monday attesting to the fact that Toby was well behaved and should be allowed to stay with his family. The amnesty agreed to by councillors will give the Willoughby's the compromise they requested. If pot-bellied pig owners in the urban areas can prove to Animal Services officers that they owned their pet before the 28th of May, they will be allowed to keep them, provided they are spayed and neutered and weigh less than 100 pounds. Pot-bellied pig owners have until June 30th to register their pig with the municipality. Mrs. Willoughby told the Orono Times on Tuesday morning that the family was happy with the outcome. "As stressful as everything has been over the past couple of months, we are very happy that Toby gets to stay at home and everybody else in Clarington who owns a pig gets to keep their pig at home," Willoughby stated. The Willoughby's were also found to be in contravention of the Exotic Pet By-law when it was reported they owned two ferrets. Staff is recommending that as ferrets do not pose any threat to the community and would have little impact on neighbours, they along with chinchillas and degus, a small rodent that is endemic to central Chile, be removed from the Exotic Pet Bylaw. As the current by-law is silent on the keeping of venomous vertebrates staff is recommending they be included in the list of prohibited animals as well as constricting snakes greater than two metres in length. As staff occasionally receive complaints regarding the keeping of pigeons within the urban boundaries, mainly involving the pigeons perching and defecating on property other than their owners' they are recommending some restrictions pertaining to pigeon ownership be included in the Exotic Pet By-law. Under the new by-law pigeon owners must be an active member in good standing of a recognized pigeon club, their pigeons must be banded, can only be outside for daily flight, they must eat in their enclosures which must be kept in good repair and maintained in a sanitary state. All the recommended changes to the existing Exotic Pet By-law will be voted on by full council next week. ~ Happenings ~ Tuesday, May 30th 2012 - St.George's Newcastle, SALAD Lunch & Dinner, $12.00 Adults, Children 6-12 $6.00, Children Under 5 free. Lunch 11:30-1:00, Dinner 4:30- 6:00 P.M Tuesday, June 5th 2012 - Big Brothers and BigSisters of Clarington AGM, 23 Scugog Street Bowmanville 7 p.m Wednesday, July 4th, 2012 - Newcastle Villiage and District Historical Society, Victorian Tea, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m , St. George Newcastle Parish Hall, tickets $10.00, available Tuesday and Saturday 9:30 a.m. to noon, contact Bev Jeeves at 905-987-5180