Is it illegal to keep pigs in your basement?

[rubyredshoes]

I went to a friends house who i know breeds veitnamese pot bellied pigs and was horrified to find the overweight male and sow living in the windowless basement and has done for a little while without ever having seen sunlight so their job is only to breed and make more piglets to sell and I find this really upsetting but my friend says that it's okay as all they need is food and would be happy with the little exercise she gets in the really small basement but I'm not an experts so do not know how true this is.
She changes the hay down there several times a day and the pigs seem clean well fed and happy.
Is it okay to leave pigs in the basement?

[ummmm]

It's not as bad as a smoking monkey....

[boxtops]

It might not be illegal, it depends on the council's view of keeping livestock, but it's not good for the pigs - they need light and air and room to run around. She's got the pig equivalent of a puppy farm. I hope they are inspected regularly by a vet, vaccinated etc - I wouldn't buy a pig without seeing the parents etc., this sounds dreadful, and the place must smell really bad - pigpoo is not something you can easily disguise.
Report her to the RSPCA for cruelty to animals.

[hc4361]

Contact the RSPCA for their opinion.

[boxtops]

The RSPCA number is 0300 1234 999 - as said the other day to the bloke with the unicorn.

[craft1948]

It's okay in Indonesia......

[mandimoo]

dunno about illegal, but it is certainly immoral imho. please tell the rspca. if they think its ok, so be it.

[JonnyBoy12]

I like pigs but I could not eat a whole one!

[notasyoungasiwas]

As others have said, PLEASE have a word with the RSPCA. IMO this is extremely cruel. They need sunlight.