KINGSTON TOWNSHIP -- Zoning officials in Luzerne County told a crowd Thursday night that they cannot make a decision about a pet pig named Gemma.
There's been controversy over the one-year-old potbellied pet in a residential section of Kingston Township.
Gemma is a family pet and lives inside a home on Mount Olivet Road, but recently the family who owns her was cited. Township rules do not allow pigs in residential neighborhoods.
The family paid about $500 to appeal the citation and expected some kind of answer from zoning officials at Thursday's meeting.
"The zoning hearing board does not have the authority to hear appeals under the animal nuisance ordinance,” said Donald Brobst, solicitor for the township zoning board.
Zoning officials say they lack the jurisdiction to rule on this because the family was cited under an animal nuisance ordinance, not a zoning ordinance.
"They accepted the money, and I was in contact with the zoning officer and he said the whole issue here was Gemma the pig was not allowed in a residential zone. That's a zoning issue. Now, all of a sudden, they're flip-flopping and saying it's a nuisance!" said Lawrence Kansky, attorney for the family who owns Gemma.
The family's attorney says township officials can now go to the magistrate to enforce the rule. The fine is $1000 dollars a day, and violators could face up to 90 days in prison.
"Because we were cited under a zoning law, we appealed it in the proper manner. If we have to go under the supervisors, we'll go under the supervisors,” said Karen Laskowski, whose daughter owns the pig.
There were some people at the board meeting who came because they heard about the issue.
There's an online petition to change Kingston Township rules to allow Gemma to stay.
"Terrible, terrible. They took $500 from these people, and they got no answers. Absolutely no answers,” said Brenda Buckler of Plains Township.
“It's a potbelly pig. It's not a regular farm pig, and it’s bred in the '60's for domestic. It's like you having a dog and a cat. That's what a potbelly pig was bred for. I guess everybody has to get rid of their guinea pigs too,” said Donna Fountain of Exeter.
Kansky says he's going to start researching this issue right away to find out what the next step is and where he has to take the appeal, but he says one thing is certain.
“I can tell you this, Gemma's not leaving that house. I can tell you that. The pig stays," said Kansky.
