Oklahoma officials say Larry the pot-bellied pig is too big for the city

The owners of a pot-bellied pet pig who has been described as being too “chubby” are at the center of a battle with Oklahoma officials over the size of their pet, which appears to exceed the city’s ordinance.

The ordeal began when Larry escaped from his pigsty on Thursday – grinning and running through the streets of Moore, blocking a lane. He was later arrested by police officers and animal welfare officials.

After Larry’s capture, the pig’s owner, Steffany Jones, was warned by city officials that Larry was too chubby to be kept within city limits. Animal welfare officials gave her a written warning that she had two weeks to relocate her pig — or put her on a diet.

“They told me if he goes down I can keep him,” she said. It’s unclear exactly how much Larry weighs, but city ordinance says pigs can’t exceed 75 pounds and 20 inches.

Now Jones is in the middle of a battle with officials demanding a change in the city’s ordinance.

Steffany Jones (pictured) gives her pet pig Larry (pictured) loads of love. Jones said Larry was given to her as a wedding present by her husband in 2014

The controversy began last week when Larry escaped from his pen and became the town’s runaway pig. Jones said the incident was “a complete accident”.

“He was able to get out of his pen and walked down the street,” she said.

Jones told News4 Oklahoma that Larry “never had any problems before” and that he is loved by everyone. “All my neighbors and their kids love him,” she said.

However, officials weren’t so thrilled when they had to respond to a pig blocking a road.

The video shows two uniformed officers and animal control personnel chasing the pig down the street and attempting to fight it. Once, after officers cornered him with a stick, the black-and-white boar was heard screeching loudly.

One of the animal control officers tries to use a rope to grab the animal, which was eventually caught and loaded into the vehicle with a towel over its head.

The Moore Police Department released a message Thursday stating the pig was “captured safely by Moore Animal Control with the arguing support of Moore Police officers.”

Moore Police Department officers are attempting to capture Larry during the hog hunt that took place Thursday in Moore, a city in Cleveland County, Oklahoma

The officers are seen here using a stick to try and corner the pig, who was terrified and screeched loudly during the ordeal

One of the animal control officers tries to wrestle the pig and put some sort of rope over its head to hold it down

Officers can be seen (pictured) placing the pig in the animal control vehicle after its capture as a blue towel covered its face. Another officer is holding his cell phone and capturing video of the incident, which appears to have caused the pig much grief

Jones, who got Larry as a wedding gift from her husband in 2014, calls him her “baby” and a member of her family.

“It was love at first sight,” she told News4 Oklahoma that Larry goes with her “everywhere,” even “sleeps in bed and cuddles with her.”

Jones said when she had Larry nearly nine years ago, her only requirement was that she had papers from the vet stating he was a “miniature paunch” and an official certificate.

Jones claimed that she had been a good pig farmer over the years and had stayed in touch with animal control.

After last week’s ordeal, however, she was completely caught off guard.

“I brought them information from the American Mini Pig Association that shows them the size of pigs, and they said they could just follow the written code,” said Jones, who describes herself as such a ‘crazy pig mother’.

Neighbors and members of the community have gathered behind her and Larry since the incident.

Jones created an online petition on change.org titled #LARRYSTAYSINMOORE – Mini Pig Ordinance Change for Moore, OK.

She shares some background on Larry, who she believes is neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. She also explains his living quarters

“He has his own fenced-in, insulated house with heating and solar-powered air-conditioning, blankets and a swimming pool for those hot sunny days,” she wrote.

“Larry is very well cared for and loved by his family. He also has a 6-year-old boy with autism at home who would be devastated if Larry were gone.’

The movement has spurred more than 4,000 signatures, with a goal of 5,000, which Jones says has become “national and international.”

“I have supporters from other countries and so does Larry,” she said. “He has fans.”

“Please sign this petition to not only support Larry, but to help keep all current and future minipigs in Moore with their families.”

Jones will attend a city council meeting Tuesday night in hopes of making a city ordinance change.

Jones, who calls herself “a pig mom,” said Larry is part of her family. She created an online petition on change.org to help change the city ordinance. The petition has garnered national and international attention and thousands of signatures

Jones said the neighborhood stands with her as she seeks justice for her pet pig and all other pigs living in her community. Shown in the picture are some unidentified visitors who often visit Larry, who is a welcome addition to the neighborhood and loved by everyone, Jones said