Partially-deaf Fort Collins woman battles HOA over 'service dog'

[Miss-Delectable]

Partially-deaf Fort Collins woman battles HOA over 'service dog' - KDVR

Pookee the Pomeranian is in the dog fight of her life.

Her homeowner's association has a bone to pick with her, because there are no pets allowed in her Fort Collins condo building.

"Pookee helps me with my hearing impairment," Julianna Rigby, Pookee's owner says.

Rigby is deaf in one ear and considers Pookee her service dog. She says her furry companion alerts her when she isn't wearing her hearing aid.

"I can't hear if someone breaks in. And she's alerted me to that kind of thing before. That's what she is specifically trained to do," Rigby told us.

While the Americans with Disabilities Act states that service dogs can't be banned from public buildings, the Park Lane Towers HOA disagrees with Rigby's definition of a 'service dog' in this case.

The HOA president says the rules and regulations are clear on their building, and Pookee isn't certified by the ADA, so the law does not apply.

However, an ADA spokesperson told FOX 31 News that an animal doesn't have to be certified to be a service animal. As long as the animal is individually trained to perform a specific task for an individual with a disability, it qualifies.

The HOA won't budge. The board has fined Julianna $500 and says if she doesn't get rid of the dog, they'll slap a lien on her property.

The HOA has turned the matter over to attorney. Julianna has to appear in court November 23rd.

 

[Kateweb]

that lien on her property wont hold water and the housing ass will gt laughed out of court

 

[deafdyke]

On the other hand.............WHY does a person who's only deaf in one ear need a service dog? What exactly is the purpose of a hearing ear dog? Seeing eye dogs and those monkeys that help quads......yeah all for it.
But you can find all sorts of devices and ways to subsistute for a dog.

 

[sallylou]

It would help if this dog wasn't a small yippy dog named "pookee." Most service dogs are a more dependable breed. Pomeranians are high strung dogs who are not known for their even temperament or training ability. It's not like they are even socialized for ease of handling in public.

 

[Lighthouse77]

I can understand why she need a dog at night. My husband work at night shift, and I usually hate going to bed because I'm afraid I wouldn't hear and protect our son.

Some people feel much better if they had a dog at their side as their ears. I know I would.

 

[rockin'robin]

It would help if this dog wasn't a small yippy dog named "pookee." Most service dogs are a more dependable breed. Pomeranians are high strung dogs who are not known for their even temperament or training ability. It's not like they are even socialized for ease of handling in public.

Yeah, I agree about Pomeranians, as I have one, and she is very "skittish". But as far as training goes, she is very well behaved and trained to "come, sit, fetch", etc. But as a "hearing dog", No, she would not make the grade. But she does bark!....(and runs!).....But I prefer a small dog to a big one, because of it being inside mostly. My dog just alerts me to someone knocking on the door....and even noises late at night...my cat does too, in some ways.