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Dakota City Takes Second Look at Banishment of Boy's Pet Pig

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Dakota City Takes Second Look at Banishment of Boy's Pet Pig

DesMoinesRegister
March 16, 2005

A little background: An autistic boy's Vietnamese potbellied pig was evicted from Dakota City last year after city leaders decided the animal violated rules banning livestock in town. A magistrate judge agreed with the decision. Four months later, the decision has resulted in one lonely boy, two upset parents, a banished pig and a group that wants to do something about it.

Zack Dahlsten, 12, is still waiting for his pet pig to come home. An advocacy group that helps Iowans with disabilities is trying to make that happen.

Last week, Iowa Protection and Advocacy Services called on Dakota City's council members to make an exception to a policy that prohibits certain animals from the city limits. Zack's parents, Frank and Kim Dahlsten, say the potbellied pig is therapeutic for the boy, who also suffers from mental retardation and partial blindness.

The council is considering the request and will make a decision within a month, Mayor David Lee said this week.

"The child has been very distraught, very upset," said Sylvia Piper, executive director of the advocacy group. "We feel that the mayor and council need to do the right thing on behalf of this child."

Piper said the boy achieved an incredible breakthrough by developing a strong bond with the pig, named Sid.

In June, the council voted to deny the Dahlsten family's request to keep the pig. The family kept Sid anyway, and the matter ended up in court. Magistrate Judge Kurt Stoebe decided in November that keeping Sid violated the city's livestock ordinance.

The pig now lives on a farm about 30 miles from Dakota City, Kim Dahlsten said. She said her son has been through counseling to help him deal with the loss of his pet.

The family visits the pig occasionally, "but it's not the same as it was before," Dahlsten said.

"He's changed ever since the pig has been out of the house, and he's actually worse when we see the pig (and) then come back home."

Lee, the mayor, said council members are researching the facts of the case and reviewing materials provided by the advocacy group. He said people have the wrong impression about the council's actions last year.

"If the people want the true facts of everything that has transpired . . . they should come to City Hall and listen to the council meeting tapes," Lee said. "Because every time this hits the paper, rumors get to floating . . . and we look like we don't have a heart."

By Jennifer Dukes Lee

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