A guilty verdict handed down by Alberta Provincial Court on Monday moves Eli the pot-bellied pig closer to removal from his Sherwood Park home.

Charged to pay a $100 fine for violating Strathcona County’s Animal Control Bylaw, Michelle Kropp, Eli’s owner, faces the end of a struggle that has played across several months to keep her family pet.

“We have two little girls that have been through so many other things in our lives before we combined as a family,” said Kropp, explaining her limited options and noting her family would have to take time to discuss what to do next.

“I just wish we could keep our pet. He’s not livestock, he’s a pet,” said Maggie, 8, one of Kropp’s daughters.

“He’s always there for us,” said Kropp’s other daughter, Jayme, 11.

The three-hour trial began mid-afternoon, and was presided over by justice of the peace Tom Langeste. Greg Plester of Brownlee LLP represented the Crown. Kropp’s representation was Darcy Gramberg, a personal agent without formal legal training.

“I accept that Eli is part of the family,” Langeste said.

He added the case had nothing to do with sympathy, pointing to Eli’s lack of a licence to be a therapeutic animal, the definitions of the bylaws and the lack of a permit to keep Eli as a pet.

“I have to find you guilty,” Langeste said, giving the Kropp family his best wishes and offering hope that they would find some other accommodation for their pet.

Kropp asked for two months delay in paying the fine to consider her options, which the court granted.

Outside the courthouse, Kropp consoled her crying children as she said she does not believe relocating from Sherwood Park is a viable option in order to keep Eli.

Strathcona County released a statement stating it hopes the ruling will encourage the family to comply with relocating the pig. If Eli is not relocated, the county will continue with an application to the Court of Queen’s Bench for an Order to have him removed.

Should it come to that, the hearing is expected to occur in early 2015.