Tarazet: I Say Cha-Cha Should Stay!

June 19, 2004

I Say Cha-Cha Should Stay!

This story of an elderly, handi-capped woman living in a condo association in Florida has received a lot of press down there. Here's a summary from the Sun-Sentinel:

A doctor prescribed Cha Cha for Bernadette Casale and the 85-year-old isn't about to give up the Chihuahua just because she lives in a no-pet community, her lawyer said.

Faced with an effort by her condo association to evict her 21/2-pound pet, Casale filed a lawsuit Friday arguing federal and county fair-housing laws protect her right to keep the dog. In the suit, she claims she's a victim of housing discrimination and asks for more than $15,000 in damages.

Association president Chris Termini has quit his post, saying his life was threatened by outraged Casale supporters.

Yes, rules are rules and Casale DID KNOW when she moved in that dogs weren't allowed. Still, we're talking about a dog the size of a small rabbit. And, it was prescribed by her doctor. Sometimes these condo associations take themselves way too seriously. Bending the rules for Casale, simply looking the other way, would have prevented the whole publicity bruhaha now being played out. Sort of the same as the guy who was ordered to take down his American Flag last year at another condo in Florida.

Of course, I would never move to a community that didn't allow pets, and some would say, she shouldn't have either and shouldn't be complaining. But I'll side with her and her dog. You knew that...

Posted by Jeff Soyer at June 19, 2004 02:51 PM

Comments

So when did the doctor "prescribe" the dog? Before or after she moved into the condo? Florida is getting as full of fruits and nuts as California. IMHO, of course.

Posted by: Indigo at June 20, 2004 01:42 AM

Well, it's not as fruity and nutty as one might think. Doctor's prescribe the calming effects of pets and when a pet is prescribed by a doctor, it is now a service animal.

Having worked with the ADA, this apartment or condo complex cannot discriminate against this lady and her dog. It's akin to discriminating against someone who is blind and needs a seeing eye dog.

If she contacts the ADA, she will win this case.

And for anyone who thinks it's ridiculous to prescribe a pet, they need to read up a little bit on certain ailments that people suffer. Start with the ADA and go from there.

It's that attitude that is causing this lady as much grief as she's getting. And it doesn't matter if she "knew" about the no pet policy before or after the dog was prescribed. Again, once a doctor does this, it's now a service animal and no one can deny her.

Posted by: Serenity at June 20, 2004 12:40 PM

for Gods sake shes an old lady. If the dog bothers no one with noise mess ect...let it go...People major on the minor dont you think?

Posted by: DancingRainGirl at June 23, 2004 03:21 AM