Berlin court bans keeping a pig in a fourth-floor apartment

The Administrative Court of Berlin has upheld a decision by the Berlin-Mitte district office prohibiting the keeping of a pig in a fourth-floor apartment. The court ruled that housing a single pig in an old building without an elevator, free access to outdoor areas, or opportunities for rooting and wallowing violates animal welfare laws.

The owner, who claimed the animal was a mini-pig being trained as a therapy pig, argued that the animal had sufficient space in a 70-square-meter apartment and access to a garden in Berlin and a farm in Brandenburg during the spring. However, the court determined that the requirements for mini-pigs are the same as those for domestic pigs, necessitating stable housing with outdoor access.

The case gained attention after the owner posted videos of the pig on TikTok, leading neighbors to report the living conditions to local authorities. The court noted that pigs are social animals and their physical structure is not suited for navigating stairs.