[nagdu] picking your battles: win or lose

[Steven Johnson]

Bibi, this is what is referred to as a reasonable accommodation under the
Fair Housing Amendments Act 1988.  This might help you locate the
appropriate verbage in any policy you are looking for.

Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Criminal Justice Major Extraordinaire
Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 4:07 PM
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;
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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