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SEEKONK - Carl Noelte's buddy, Homer, is a pig.

Not in the sense of a smelly, gluttonous couch potato - but an actual pig.

And that is the reason his presence at Noelte's Seekonk home brought on controversy and a decision from the town's zoning board of appeals.

Town ordinances allow animals considered livestock - such as pigs and cows - to live on lots of five acres of land or more. Since Noelte's property is less than an acre, Homer was due for a day in court.

Noelte argued that while Homer is a pig - a 6-month-old Vietnamese pot-bellied pig, to be exact - he is not livestock, but a pet. So, what is the line between pet or livestock.

In a 4-1 decision, the board elected to give Noelte a one-year test permit to see how he handles raising a pig in a suburban town.

Noelte also must comply with the board's conditions that he finish fencing his yard, keep Homer leashed during walks, bathe him at least once a month, provide the building inspector with a "manure-control plan," and give Homer regular veterinary checkups.

Homer first came to town hall's attention when Noelte, himself, brought the porker in. Noelte knew owning a pig required permission.

"He came in, and just asked about it, and I said that it constitutes a special permit," said Mike Crisafulli, Seekonk's building inspector and zoning officer.

When Noelte asked if there was any avenue he could take to try to keep his pet, Crisafulli told him he would have to go before the zoning board of appeals.

"I must abide by the law, and before you get a pig, you got to have permission because it's not the ordinary type of animal," said Noelte, a sheet rock installer. "And that's when I learned about the five-acre ordinances."

After meeting twice, the five-member board decided Homer was a pet.

"I'm happy that I get to keep the pig. It's great," Noelte said. "I'd hate to get rid of him."

Crisafulli said it did not matter to him which way the board ruled, and that he has no personal problem with Noelte keeping Homer. "What is in the bylaws, unfortunately, I have to enforce," he said. "We're just doing the job."

Still, some folks do not understand why owning a pig in a residential neighborhood poses a problem.

"I don't know what people are afraid of. People just aren't that familiar with pigs," said Jaine Finck, who is on the board of the North American Pot-Bellied Pig Association based in Bradenton, Fla.

"I don't know what they're worried about," she said. "(Pigs) aren't loud, they don't bark, like dogs. They won't go running around the neighborhood. They're very clean animals. People really need to educate themselves about pigs."

According to Finck, who got her first pot-bellied pig in 1991, swine are social, easy-to-train animals.

She said the image of pigs wallowing in their own filth is mostly a negative stereotype. She said pigs will only roll in the mud to keep cool in the heat because they do not pant like other animals. And she said they would much rather hop in a tub of clean water.

Finck added that pigs are actually the fourth-smartest animal - behind primates, whales, and dolphins.

"They are more intelligent than dogs and cats," she said.

Finck said Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs are smaller and easier to handle than their larger cousins, Yorkshires or feral pigs.

She said that, if fed properly, pot-bellied pigs should weigh around 125 to 150 pounds - not 300, like the only member of the zoning board of appeals to oppose Homer's residency had warned.

Still, pot-bellied pigs can get pretty large.

Gunther, an 11-year-old Vietnamese pot-bellied pig, has resided at the zoo at World War I Memorial Park in North Attleboro since 1997, when he was taken by the Boston Rescue League after being abused by its owners - and he's anything but petite.

Though Gunther's 300-pound body makes it difficult for employees to restrain when it is time to transport him or give him medicine, if Homer gets as much love as he has, Homer will be one lucky pig.

"(Gunther) is one of the most popular animals at the zoo," said Liz Damiano, the head zookeeper.

For his part, Noelte promises he will use "common sense," and not overfeed Homer.