South Florida family won their fight to keep their miniature pig Twinkie, with doctor's prescription

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. - Twinkie, the pig, has gotten the OK  to stay with her family.

The Rays, who live in South Florida, wanted to get a pet to provide emotional support for their son, Kason, who has Down syndrome.

The family couldn’t get a cat or dog because of a family member’s allergies. Miniature pigs are hypoallergenic, so they chose Twinkie to help their son.

Unfortunately according to Coral Springs city code, residents are not allowed to keep pigs as pets. The Ray family thought they should receive an exception because Twinkie is an emotional support animal. An emotional support pet provides therapeutic benefit to its owner through companionship and affection.

A doctor gave Kason a prescription for a pig as an emotional support pet. After seeing proof of a prescription given to the boy, Coral Springs city leader said that Twinkie could stay.

"He (Kason) does get very agitated easily. She (Twinkie) helps as a calming effect to him. She gives him the acceptance that not all special needs people really gets in our society," said Heather Ray the boy's mother.