STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- If you thought the fictional Wilbur from children's classic Charlotte's Web was cute, wait until you meet real-life Staten Island resident, Wilbur the Pig.

Wilbur's story begins five years ago, when Cristy Matteo of Great Kills brought him home from a breeder in Utah. Wilbur instantly adapted to life in the Matteo home, quickly becoming one of the family.

"He's like my child," said Matteo, noting that Wilbur likes belly rubs and spending time with everyone in the family including her dad, Thomas Matteo, and her dog, Milo.

However, life in the Matteo house will soon change, as Wilbur is being forced to leave his home by Jan. 31 due to a court decision made by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH).

"Someone called 311 on me," said Matteo, "that's how this whole thing started. Almost five years and I never had a problem.....the city Department of Health inspector showed up at my home."

Matteo went to court on May 12, 2016 in Staten Island for "harboring a wild animal" and had her case dismissed.

"I thought I was done but apparently not," Matteo said, noting the DOHMH overturned the decision and took her back to court in Manhattan claiming that if Wilbur didn't have a rabies vaccination he would have to leave her home.

While Wilbur has a rabies shot, it is for a dog, as there is no FDA-approved rabies vaccination for pigs, Matteo said.

However, Matteo said that "there is no documented case of a pig getting rabies."

Matteo cannot imagine life without Wilbur, who has showed he's far from a "wild animal" in many ways.

In fact, when Matteo's dad Thomas had to stay with his daughter to get radiation treatments in New Jersey Wilbur was at his side.

"He (my dad) would walk through that door and before he would even sit down Wilbur would actually lay on the floor where my father was going to sit," Matteo said.

Staten Island resident fights to keep her pig 16 Gallery: Staten Island resident fights to keep her pig

Matteo said that Wilbur is so much of a comfort to her dad, he's been deemed an "emotional support animal' by the National Service Animal Registry.

He's also a comfort to Matteo, who has a lot on her plate with her dad's illness.

"The cancer is back in full force," said a concerned Matteo.

However, the city still told Matteo that she has until the end of the month to make arrangements for Wilbur to move out.

"I was told if they come to my house after Jan. 31 and he's here, they will seize him and it's up to them...they can do whatever they want with him," Matteo said, noting her biggest fear.

"If they seize him, I'm afraid they will kill him," she said.

Matteo said that Ziggy Refuge in Greensboro, North Carolina has offered to take Wilbur but she's still hoping to find a way to keep him at home, especially since he's used to being an "indoor" pig and would have trouble adjusting.

State Senator Tony Avella is sponsoring a bill that would allow pigs as pets as long as they are under 200 lbs. (Wilbur thankfully weighs in at 180). However, Matteo says she doesn't know how long that will take.

Matteo is also looking to get support from the Staten Island community.

"The only thing I ask is that people just try to help me save my pig and come up with any kind of solution....There has to a loophole and no one can seem to find it," Matteo said.

If you have any suggestions, please post them in the comments below, or send an email to skeag@siadvance.com.