[nagdu] picking your battles: win or lose

[Sean Robertson]

Good luck with this, And I sure hope they will fix this.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Criminal Justice Major Extraordinaire" <orleans24 at comcast.net>
To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:;>
Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 5:07 PM
Subject: [nagdu] picking your battles: win or lose


> Hi, all,
> I know this is a strange subject line, but here it all goes...
> If you wish not to read my message, then feel free to move on to other 
> emails and things.
> *Smiles*
> When I posted the last time about the new pet policy that took place, I 
> went downstairs to sign the paperwork.
> Come to find out, HUD (Housing Urban Development) doesn't have a section 
> that would pertain to service dogs as a whole.
> Even the assistant manager Shannon Dickey looked up on line under policies 
> and didn't see anything either.
> I told her I'd have to do further investigation on this by finding out who 
> I could get appropriate documentation from.
> I immediately contacted the ADA Information Center here in Colorado 
> Springs, Colorado.
> Although they do have some info and  statues on service dogs, they refered 
> me to Fair Housing First.
> I ended up speaking with a representative named Amber who was greateful 
> for helping me out.
> I explained the situation of Odie being a medical alert service dog for my 
> husband Dale and that I was in the process of looking into getting another 
> guide dog.
> She stated to me that by federal law, HUD has to abide by regulations of 
> where Dale and I or others who are roommates or married couples could have 
> up to two service dogs in the apartment like the one we have which is a 
> one bedroom, living room next to the bedroom, bathroom and kitchen.
> With both service dogs, they can not come and tell my husband or I that 
> only one dog is allowed.
> i've requested a document via email and a print copy that does have info 
> on service dogs as a whole and that for HUD, they will have to fix that 
> problem immediately since they don't have a short statement on their web 
> site.
> The represenative stated that HUD should have a small statement on their 
> web site and under their policies in regards to service dogs and does 
> agree with me that HUD can get into serious, federal trouble if they don't 
> catch this right on the spot..
> If anything, I'd have to do further investigation myself by going directly 
> to the web site.
> I told Amber that I'd rather do the educating part first before any legal 
> attempts of going to court or even a lawsuit.
> Amber agreed with me and said I was doing the right thing with taking this 
> route first.
> I told her that if I couldn't get HUD to understand that service dogs are 
> not pets and nor are they companion dogs, I will then have to go further.
> Thankfully, I believe that the Fair Housing documentation will do me some 
> good and I plan on having the assistant manager of the apartment complex 
> definitely make a copy of it and I also want to be sure that HUD sees this 
> too.
> I figure that at times when myself or others decide to be partnered with a 
> four-legged furry dog that allows us to be more independent, wehter they 
> are a guide, hearing or mobility assistance dog, there are battles to pick 
> and we will either win some or lose some.
> Truth is that I would stick to educating first before court as I can't 
> aford that route as a lawyer would have to be hired, case has to be 
> planned out and then comes the costs of whether the case gets dismissed.
> I'm proud of the accomplishments I've made so far today and will see that 
> documentation via postal mail next week.
> I'll definitely get it sooner via email though.
> Bibi and Odie
> the happy spirited bounty labra wolf
>
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