STRATHMORE, Alta. — After an emotional appeal, Chuckles the pot-bellied pig will be allowed home to help ease the night terrors of an 11-year-old Alberta girl.

The town council in Strathmore has allowed the Dahl family to allow the pig to live indoors — an exception to a current bylaw — after dad Trevor appealed an earlier decision to keep Chuckles out in the cold.

The family found Chuckles as a piglet wandering the streets two years ago, and daughter Cassandra bottle-fed it back to health.

The pig — which slept on Cassandra's bed — returned the favour: Cassandra suffers from almost daily night terrors, but they stopped when she started snuggling with Chuckles at night, Trevor said.

But a town bylaw prohibits the animals as pets forced the family to house it at a friend's farm. And the night terrors returned.

“I’m convinced with the information provided, and the letters from councillors and doctors, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that this animal is not just important, but crucial to the well-being of (the) family, particularly (their) daughter,” Coun. Denise Peterson said.

She had earlier asked Dahl to also provide approval from the majority of surrounding neighbours.

Council voted to amend the bylaw to make an exception — just for the Dahls.

While Trevor was hoping council would approve of pot-bellied pigs as pets in a revised bylaw, he's happy with the decision, nonetheless.

“It looks like Chuckles is coming home,” Trevor said, with the pig in tow at the council chambers. “I’m happy with the way it went and I’ll take any small victory I can get.”