The owners of so-called mini-pigs in Western Australia have called for new laws to allow their pets to be treated the same as cats or dogs.

Local councils have tried to cope with the dilemma of people wanting to keep small pet pigs in suburban back yards.

The problem is that even small pigs are often classified as large animals or farm animals in WA, meaning special provisions are needed to keep them in urban areas.

Amanda Novotny, who lives near Bunbury, was devastated when a local council ordered her to remove her family's two miniature pigs, Arnold and Olivia, from her backyard in February.

Recently, the Shire of Harvey Council refused her appeal against the decision as the Shire does not recognise them as a specific breed.

"We're just going to keep on fighting," Mrs Novotny said.

She said her pigs are no larger than a medium-sized dog and are clean, quiet and sociable animals.

Owner Amanda Novotny said Olivia and Arnold are part of the family. ( ABC South West: Michael Black )

She said her family had been unable to find any local laws which applied to mini-pigs and was stunned when the Shire refused her pleas to keep her pets.

"We can't understand why we can't have them because they're not big animals. The whole family's just so distraught and they're our pets," she said.

"They're not big animals, they're little animals."

Mrs Novotny argued her pigs are domesticated and are not farm animals.

"The rules just need to be changed. They're very old-school," she said.

The Miniature Pig and Pet Pig Association of Australia (MPPPA) said there is a need for change, claiming many of the local laws which regulate the keeping of pigs in urban areas date back to the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Miniature pigs not a recognised breed

Jim Brownlie from INKA Respite in Lake Clifton took the pigs in after the Council's decision.

Arnold and Olivia were born at the farm where Jim breeds mini-pigs.

"They make excellent pets and they're actually part of the family," he said.

Arnold and Olivia are two full-sized mini-pigs that were banished from their home in Australind. ( ABC South West: Michael Black )

Mr Brownlie said most councils treat them as standard pigs, but the rules differ between shire boundaries.

"Some people are allowed to keep them on one side of the street but on the other side of the street that can't," he said.

Harvey Shire president Tania Jackson said that while large animals like pigs, sheep and goats can sometimes be kept in residential areas, there needs to be a minimum 15-metre setback.

"In a residential area it's really hard to maintain that 15 metres from the site to neighbouring houses," she said.

A new litter of so-called mini-pigs born at INKA Respite in Lake Clifton. ( ABC South West: Michael Black )

Check local council laws

MPPPA secretary Deberah Dejong said that she always advises people to check with their local council thoroughly before buying a pet pig.

She warned existing laws were old fashioned.

"Originally in the Depression years, when farmers bought their animals to town when they came to find work, that's when the Government stepped in and said no to farm animals," she said.

Ms Dejong said miniature pigs only weigh between 20 and 30 kilograms, while commercial farm animals weigh up to 500 kilograms.

The RSPCA said there are no true miniature pigs available in Australia and while some breeders try to breed small pigs they could still weigh up to 90kg.