As usual, we’re bringing you the latest emotional support animal news report. This time, we’re covering two stories: the first a legal battle over a child’s emotional support chicken; then, a woman’s frantic search for her dog, who was adopted against her will. Read on to get the full scoop.
Family Fighting to Keep Child’s Emotional Support Chickens
A Massachusetts couple is litigating against the city of Beverly to keep the daughter’s beloved emotional support chickens. Despite neighbor’s complaints and reports by the city’s health director, this family is not backing out.
It all started when a 7-year-old girl was diagnosed with a learning disability and anxiety. Her parents started looking for ways to ease her symptoms and found an unusual one: raising chickens. As soon as the chickens moved into their suburban backyard, the daughter became happier and more self-assured.
What the couple didn’t know was that keeping chickens is not allowed in Beverly. The coop violates health codes. After some complaints from neighbors about noise, odors, and rats, the city moved to evict the 5 hens the family keeps.
The family was outraged by the request and claims their daughter’s rights aren’t being protected, citing the Fair Housing Act and Americans with Disabilities Act. The case went to court.
A judge is giving the city and family until February 9th to work things out on their own. However, negotiations seem to have stalled. The family says all they want is for their child to be happy and healthy and that the city should provide reasonable accommodation. On the other hand, the city says it has no leeway and cannot make concessions.
With mounting pressure from media outlets and people on social media, we’ll have to wait a few weeks to see what the city will do next.
Source: bostonglobe.com
Woman Sues New York Rescue, “Stolen” ESA Dog
A woman in New York City claims her emotional support dog was adopted against her will while she was in the hospital. She has gone 9 months without her companion animal, with no end to the separation in sight.
Back in April 2021, Denise McCurrie called an ambulance during an anxiety attack. When paramedics arrived, she begged them to make sure her pup, Roscoe, was taken care of. After just 3 days, he was allegedly adopted without her permission.
New York law says pounds must hold unidentified dogs for 5 days before being put up for adoption. However, according to McCurrie’s lawsuit, the shelter gave Roscoe away to a rescue group after just 3 days. Despite trying to adopt him back, she wasn’t allowed.
The group claims Roscoe was unhealthy when they took him in. They allege ear infections, mouth sores, a dirty coat, and extreme pain. “Something isn’t quite adding up, perhaps there’s a possibility that the previous owner became somehow unable to provide proper care between his late 2020 vet appointments and now,” the groups notes read.
McCurrie is ready to prove this isn’t true, and so she has filed a lawsuit with the Manhattan Supreme Court. After 9 months without her emotional support dog, she is feeling the toll of her mental illness diagnoses.
Source: nypost.com
CertaPet’s Thoughts on This Week’s News
It’s not uncommon for chickens to be booted out of city limits, and sadly this is happening now a Massachusetts family. Hopefully, city officials and the parents can work out a good deal for the little girl.
We’re also sad to hear that an emotional support pup and his owner haven’t been reunited yet. The next few months should clear up this misunderstanding.
If you’re living with symptoms from an emotional or mental illness, getting an ESA could be a great idea. These loving animals can be an asset in your life. To get started, take our 5-minute pre-screening test for free. We’ll connect you with a licensed mental health professional, who will meet with you. Then, if you qualify, you’ll get your emotional support animal letter in no time!