VICTORIANEWS lug
Voter fever
Greater Victoria residents flock to the polls Page A9
NEWS: Esquimalt Village Project moves ahead /A4 15 QUESTIONS: With Pamela Madoff /A7 EVENTS: Japanese fair highlights culture /A15 Proudly serving Esquimalt & Victoria
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Vic resident fighting to keep pet pigs Kendra Wong
However, Downey is fighting to have the laws updated so he can keep his pigs. It paints a strange Downey originally picture in one’s mind. got the pigs when A 39-year-old man they were four walking his two pigs months old from a on a leash down a breeder in Florida and street in Vic West. now treats them as But that is what if they were his own Mike Downey did. children. Several times a “Pigs are the fourth week, Downey would smartest animal on take his two potbelly the planet. I started to pigs, Athena and do some research and Vishnu (named after you could teach pigs the Greek goddess of to play video games,” war and Hindu god), he laughed. “I got out for a walk in the pigs because they’re same way a dogsmart. I can teach owner would. The two indoor pigs them tricks in under 20 minutes and they (Athena weighs in at remember it for their 110 pounds, while whole life.” Vishnu weighs close He has taught them to 130 pounds) have a number of tricks, lived with Downey in including teaching his Vic West home for Vishnu to say just over three years. “mama,” and sings to But recently they them as well. Above were relocated to a all, they love cuddling. barn near Brentwood “When they were Bay on the west four pounds, they side of the Saanich used to run and jump Peninsula. Downey on my bed and you’ve had to get rid of his Duplex Viewseen Lot pigs 73jump never pets after 1. the City on 11,800sf Sylvan Lane $1,099,000 MLS 351211 before unless they of Victoria told him want to cuddle,” they go against city 2. Renovated Legal Duplex with Views Downey said. MLS bylaws, threatening 1828 Crescent Road $1,199,000 him with a353190 $250 fine for every day the PlEASE SEE: animals remain in the Resident fights for pet 3. Gordon Point Executive Home 4516 Gordon Point Drive $1,175,000 COMING home. pigs, Page A5
Victoria News
Pamela Roth/Victoria News
Victoria police Sgt. Barrie Cockle shows the mess left behind by a homeless person outside the shetler at Rock Bay Landing.
Waking up the homeless part of daily grind Pamela Roth Victoria News
It’s 7:30 a.m. on a rainy morning in October when Const. Dan O’Connor and Sgt. Barrie Cockle pull up to Kings Park in Fernwood. Three tents of various sizes are pitched in the small park that contains a needle disposal hanging on a white fence. A few pieces of garbage are strewn across the patchy grass.
“Hello, the police are here. Time to get up!” says Cockle to the campers. A few people zip open their tent and peer at the officers standing patiently outside. One woman they know well — she suffers from serious mental health issues that often lead to problems whenever she’s in the park. On this day, however, she’s cooperative. Cockle isn’t leaving until the homeless have packed up their belongings and moved on for the day.
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City bylaws state that people can only shelter in a park between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. That time changes to 7 p.m. in the winter. Sometimes Cockle has stood at the park for more than two hours waiting for the homeless to pack up and leave. It’s a test of patience for the police and neighbours. PlEASE SEE: Wake up calls, Page A3
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