Strathcona County Council is making it clear they will not back down when it comes to the issue of Eli the pig. The pot-bellied pig has been living with the Kropp family in a Sherwood Park home for the last four years which breaks a municipal bylaw. On June 24, the county issued the family a violation ticket and on August 11, a not-guilty plea was entered in Provincial Court. A trial date for the ticket has been set for November 17.
The County will also make an application to the Court of Queen's Bench for an Order requiring the pig to be relocated. That appearance is scheduled for August 28, at which point the County said it expects a court date to be set for early 2015.
Strathcona County released a statement Thursday reading "The County establishes bylaws for the safety, health and welfare of people and the protection of people and property. Bylaws are created in good faith and in the public interest. In addition to establishing bylaws, the County must enforce the bylaws when they are not followed."
The County originally became aware of Eli in March when a neighbor filed a complaint against the family. According to Council, a three-week grace period was given to the family to relocate the pig but the owners did not co-operate.