‘He is my rock’: Council’s move-on orders to blind support pig

A Sunshine Coast woman has been left heartbroken at the prospect of losing her support pig after local council told her it must go following a complaint.

A Queensland woman is heartbroken at the prospect of living without her blind support pig Lenny after her local council told her it must go.

Daphne Clarkson has until Wednesday to remove Lenny from her Cooroy property after a neighbour complained to Noosa Shire Council which doesn’t allow pigs in urban areas.

Ms Clarkson, who suffers with sensory issues and anxiety, said her toilet-trained pig meant as much to her as a family dog did to others.

Berkshire Cross Lenny at home in Cooroy. Picture: Lachie Millard

The 28-year-old has begun gathering documentation in support of Lenny being recognised as her emotional support companion, including a letter from her GP.

“Lenny is just my happy place, he is my rock and I know that sounds stupid but everyone has their own comforts,” Ms Clarkson said.

“He is where I go when I’m having a bad day, he is my security item.

“I don’t even want to think about life without him- that’s terrible.”

She said Lenny’s living arrangements were limited given his vision impairment meant he regularly ran into objects, fell and was picked on by other pigs.

Ms Clarkson was living on a property in the Noosa Hinterland when Lenny was born and rejected by his mother eight months ago.

When the property was put up for sale, Ms Clarkson scrambled to find a home in a tight rental market, joining with another household to rent a block in Cooroy from a landlord she says approved of Lenny.

A new neighbour complained about the pampered pig within days of him moving in.

“The council came straight out which is fine, they have been really rather good about this,” Ms Clarkson said.

“I’m just hoping they can consider my situation.”

Support Pig

Noosa Shire Council confirmed it had responded to a complaint regarding a pig being kept in an urban area in central Cooroy.

Director of Community Services Kerri Contini said officers are working with the pig’s owners and had discussed several alternative accommodation options for the animal.

“Keeping pigs in an urban area is prohibited under Schedule 1 of Noosa Shire Council Subordinate Local Law No. 2 (Animal Management) 2015,” she said.

“This is for hygiene, amenity, safety and biosecurity reasons,” Ms Contini said.

Ms Contini said staff were in regular contact with the owner.

Ms Clarkson said Lenny, who is walked through town on a lead, had received a warm welcome from most of the tight-knit community.

She held hope on Tuesday for the possibility that Lenny could be kept at her Cooroy home.

“He’s more than a pet, he is my baby,” she said.