Evicted and homeless...
Posted on 11/13/2017 7:48:58 PM PST by mairdie
A Clearwater Beach resident is fighting to keep his emotional support squirrel that lives with him at Island Walk Condominiums.
Ryan Boylan and Brutis are inseparable.
He rescued her last year after Hurricane Matthew.
"Ever since then I mean, oh my God, I can't imagine not being around her," said Boylan.
But he could lose her.
Property management discovered Brutis back in April when she was chased up a tree by a dog.
According to a complaint filed by the condo association to Boylan and the condo owner, exotic animals are not allowed. He never told the board about the animal.
He was sent a notice last month to give up the squirrel or be evicted.
"I was very sad that he had to basically push every single limitation that he could to try and get me out because of Brutis," said Boylan.
In the complaint, attorneys state Boylan never submitted paperwork that Brutis was an emotional support animal until this past summer.
His doctor's note was written in July.
Attorneys also state Boylan is residing in the unit as a tenant without having applied for and/or obtained approval from the association.
Boylan contacted the Office of Human Rights, claiming discrimination and they sent a letter to the association on his behalf, stating the Fair Housing Act, protecting emotional support animals.
News Channel 8 spoke to former board member, Sherry Arfa.
"I don't know if he's discriminated against. I'm sure it's like any emotional support dog, people ask questions," she said.
Condo officials say it's a liability if something happens.
"It's just like with any animal, you can have the nicest dog and they could bite somebody, it's no guarantee," said Arfa.
She feels the squirrel should be free.
"As I said if it was a gerbil or something that your grandkid had hiding under the bed, I'm sure that would be fine, but a squirrel is a wild animal," she said.
A note from Boylan's doctors states he is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after a car accident.
Boylan registered Brutis under the website RegisterMyServiceAnimal.com
His case is pending.
Already won, really... Other examples which are already won... Turkeys (wild and domestic), miniature horses, pigs (pygmy and full sized breeds), snakes (judge determined that someone's emotional support rattler needed to be safely milked each week), tarantulas, crows, and parrots.
Hear squirrels referred to as tree rats, so assume they are rodents of some species. Not heard of chipmunks being called that.
I WANT IT!!!!!
That is absolutely wonderful!
Oh, I so desperately hope you’re right.
Number 36 is the only chipmunk shown. They’re MUCH tinier. And faster than a squirrel. Only thing like the two that’s even faster is a small red squirrel. Those are aggressive and chase the larger animals away. But no idea of the genus/species connections.
Where's the critters little vest and a certificate showing it was trained as a support animal?
This is just another case of, "the rules don't apply to me and I know how to game the system to get my way", nothing more.
I have to admit that I am willing to see him game the system if he can keep an animal that he loves. And it would be adorable in a tiny little vest.
Keep letting anyone and everyone take an inch if you like but don't complain when together they've taken a mile and leave you no where to stand.
They are exotic to Aussies it seems.
Cute little guys, but I think they can just stay up in the attic. Not giving them the run of the house, even for a cuddle!
That one’s a ground squirrel or prairie dog, isn’t it?
I don’t know. Does seem to be missing the large bushy tail, though.
This falls under the limits of stupid. A squirrel is not considered an exotic animal in Florida which requires a permit to have one. So what’s the complaint?
http://www.bornfreeusa.org/b4a2_exotic_animals_state.php?s=fl
Read the law you idiots.
rwood
Grey Squirrels' bite will draw blood.
Chipmunks are very trainable. They will do anything for a sunflower seed. Every Spring, I train chipmunks to come to my whistle! Especially funny to see chipmunks ricocheting across a hundred feet of forest to race to me holding a sunflower seed...Chipmunks have even identified the sound of opening the jar I keep the sunflower seeds in.
In captivity, they live about eight years; in Nature, about five. Most youngsters are chased from the nest while still "naïve" of their predators.
The slowness of our court system guarantees the squirrel won't outlive any verdict.
http://www.nytimes.com/1985/01/01/nyregion/man-tells-police-he-shot-youths-in-subway-train.html
One minute video of Goetz trying not to get bitten by his playful squirrel. (Also fought eviction in New Hampshire for keeping his squirrel).
http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2007/09/subway-gunman-b.html
This is kind of a reverse catch-22. Telling people that you need an emotional support squirrel is probably the clearest possible evidence that you actually need an emotional support squirrel.
“Want to buy a squirrel”?
Only thing Whoopi Goldberg ever said that I didn’t disagree with.
From the Whoopi character in the movie “Rat Race”, an absolutely hilarious movie.
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