[NFBN-Lincoln] FW: Concerning report that Animal Control is discriminating against the blind

Mon Apr 20 00:59:43 UTC 2026

Hi Cheryl, 

These are the earliest emails regarding the Animal Control incident. Because
I am sending them in reverse order as I scroll through my sent mail box,
this should be the last one I will be sending for now. Thanks.

From: markmurraycoleman at gmail.com <markmurraycoleman at gmail.com> 
Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2025 7:48 PM
To: 'Denise S. Bollwitt' <dbollwitt at lincoln.ne.gov>
Subject: RE: Concerning report that Animal Control is discriminating against
the blind

Hello Ms. Bollwitt,

I received verification from Brent Heyen, the individual who was denied
service on account of his blindness, that he is comfortable with me sharing
his name and contact information. His address is 3001 R St and his phone
number is 4029425167 . The event occurred on the night of September 4. Brent
said that he also has video evidence of the bat.  

Thank  you,

Mark Coleman

From: Denise S. Bollwitt <dbollwitt at lincoln.ne.gov
<mailto:dbollwitt at lincoln.ne.gov> > 
Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2025 6:02 AM
To: markmurraycoleman at gmail.com <mailto:markmurraycoleman at gmail.com> ; Mayor
<mayor at lincoln.ne.gov <mailto:mayor at lincoln.ne.gov> >; Lincoln Commission on
Human Rights <LCHR at lincoln.ne.gov <mailto:LCHR at lincoln.ne.gov> >
Cc: Kerry L. Kernen <KKernen at lincoln.ne.gov <mailto:KKernen at lincoln.ne.gov>
>
Subject: RE: Concerning report that Animal Control is discriminating against
the blind

Mr. Coleman,

Thank you for the email.  I sincerely apologize for any issues this may have
caused.  This is not our policy and I would like further information if you
have it.  If you do, would you have the date, phone number, address or
person's name so that I may listen to our voice recording?  I would like to
start an investigation into this matter.  

  <https://app.lincoln.ne.gov/images/eSignature/star/animal_control.png> 

Denise Bollwitt
Animal Control Manager 
Lincoln-Lancaster County
Health Department | Animal Control 

Office: 402-441-8080

Fax: 402-441-8626

3131 O St. 
Lincoln, NE 68510 
 <https://lincoln.ne.gov/AnimalControl> lincoln.ne.gov/AnimalControl

  _____  

From: markmurraycoleman at gmail.com <mailto:markmurraycoleman at gmail.com>
<markmurraycoleman at gmail.com <mailto:markmurraycoleman at gmail.com> >
Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2025 4:21:10 PM
To: Health Animal Control <Animal at lincoln.ne.gov
<mailto:Animal at lincoln.ne.gov> >
Cc: Mayor <mayor at lincoln.ne.gov <mailto:mayor at lincoln.ne.gov> >; Lincoln
Commission on Human Rights <LCHR at lincoln.ne.gov <mailto:LCHR at lincoln.ne.gov>
>
Subject: Concerning report that Animal Control is discriminating against the
blind

Hello,

My name is Mark Coleman. I am the Lincoln Chapter President of the National
Federation of the Blind of Nebraska. I am writing in regards to a concerning
first hand report which I received alleging that a blind Lincoln man was
denied services from Animal Control on account of his blindness.  

It was brought to my attention that within the last couple of months a blind
Lincoln resident telephoned Animal Control seeking assistance with a bat
that was loose in his house. Animal Control reportedly told the caller that
they would be able to send somebody out to assist, but informed the man that
he needed to keep an eye on the bat until Animal Control arrived. When the
man explained that he was blind, he reports that Animal Control told him
that they could not send assistance unless there was a sighted person
present to visually track the bat until Animal Control arrived. Ultimately
Animal Control refused to send assistance and denied the man the services he
otherwise would have received had he not been blind according to the report.
The man in question is a person I know to be of high integrity and to be an
accomplished community member.

Can you confirm whether Animal Control has a policy or practice of requiring
residents to keep an eye on a bat as a requirement for receiving assistance
from Animal Control? If so, is there an exception in policy or practice to
ensure that blind people and other people with disabilities not able to meet
this requirement are still able to receive the same services as non-disabled
Lincolnites from Animal Control as required by Title II of the Americans
with Disabilities Act? Is Animal Control willing and able to take corrective
action when it falls short of meeting its legal obligations to people with
disabilities?    

The National Federation of the Blind is committed to the proposition that
nobody should be denied services on account of being blind or having vision
loss. As President of the Lincoln Chapter of the National Federation of the
Blind Nebraska Affiliate I am willing to work with agencies that are
sincerely interested in doing right by meeting their statutory obligation to
respect the civil rights and the provision of equal access to services for
disabled people in accordance to federal, state, and local law. I
respectfully request your assistance in resolving any doubts about Animal
Control's commitment to civil rights and legal compliance that have resulted
from a reported service denial to a Lincoln taxpayer and citizen based on
his blindness. A prompt response to this request for information would be
appreciated.

Sincerely,

Mark Coleman

Lincoln Chapter President, National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska

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