A family is hoping to change the law so it will be allowed to keep their pet pot-bellied pig.

Some towns allow families to keep pigs as pets, but Atlantic Highlands does not. The borough says a pig is a farm animal, and therefore belongs on a farm. However, Melissa Card says her pig Lucy is the best pet she?s ever had.

?She?s so much fun and adorable,? Card says. ?She?s quiet and she doesn?t cause anybody any problems.? Card also says Lucy behaves better than any cat or dog she?s ever had.

Mayor Frederick J. Rast III says he?s an animal lover, but there have been complaints about the pig. He says a neighbor complained about a bad odor coming from Lucy?s pen. Card, however, doesn?t believe it.

?I really think they just don?t understand,? she says. ?She?s a really great pet. She isn?t smelly and doesn?t cause any trouble at all.?

Rast says it?s unlikely the law will be changed, but Card hopes she will win her fight. Card was originally given two weeks to find Lucy a new home, but has since been granted a 30-day extension. She says she didn?t have a problem keeping Lucy at her previous addresses in Highlands and Middletown.

If she can?t get the law amended, Card will have to give Lucy up. She says if it comes to that, she will look into an animal rescue shelter that takes in pigs.