The Yorkshire Post Today - Meet Dolly and Mabel.

A family from Cullingworth have shunned pet dogs and cats, in favour of welcoming two little pigs into their home.

Teaching assistant Stacey Robertshaw and her twins Elsie and Cole, 13 recently adopted Dolly and Mabel, who are settling well into West Yorkshire life.

The adorable porkers are miniature pigs, and live in the family's home, snuggling with them like a dog in the evenings, eating and drinking from bowls and learning new tricks.

Dolly and Mabel also have a special outdoor area so that they can snuffle and enjoy the sunshine, but the majority of their time is spent indoors with their new loving family. Speaking about her unusual pet choice, Stacey said: "I can't believe how easy they are to look after, and they were house trained in two days.

"They learn so quickly and love a treat, especially a banana! I find myself walking around the supermarket picking out fruit for them to try, they definitely have a sweet tooth." Stacey and the kids adopted the pigs from the UK's leading miniature pig breeder Kew Little Pigs, which is based in Buckinghamshire.

The mum came up with the idea after following the farm on Instagram and falling in love with the cute photos and videos of life with a pig. She added: "Having a dog worried me, as I didn't really want to be having to go out walking them at night. The kids were desperate for a pet, so when I saw the miniature pigs it felt like the perfect choice.

In order to adopt from Kew Little Pigs, Stacey, Elsie and Cole had to take a pig keeping course run by the farm, and demonstrate that they had created an appropriate space for their new pets. Olivia Mikhail, owner of Kew Little Pigs, which is based in Amersham, Bucks, said: "It is so nice to see Dolly and Mabel in their happy home in West Yorkshire. Pigs really do make the perfect pets and are cheaper to keep than a dog.

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