http://www.observer-reporter.com/OR/Story/03-27-ferrets-woman-evicted

>Pop! goes the weasel argument
>
>By Dawn Keller
>Staff Writer
>
>[log in to unmask]
>
>A 65-year-old woman was evicted Wednesday from the George Washington
>after District Judge J. Albert Spence said she violated her lease by
>having ferrets.
>
>George Washington representatives gave the lease and attached rules
>to Spence during the eviction hearing. One of the rules is no pets.

Remember that the first reporter to tell about this checked Lucy
Gwin's copy of the lease and at the time she signed it there was
not a "no-pets clause" AND that service animals are exempt from
such clauses by federal law.

>Gwin contends that her ferrets are service animals. She presented a
>signed note from her doctor stating that the ferrets are a medical
>necessity because they alert her to oncoming seizures, allowing her
>to better maintain her health and employment.

Remember that uncontrolled seizures can cause brain injury and the
thrashing can cause bodily injury.

>Her attorney, Jennifer Sinclair, said Gwin did not receive the page
>of rules that states she couldn't have pets. She said the two parties
>mailed documents back and forth and talked on the phone about the
>apartment rental because Gwin lived out of state before she moved
>into the George Washington.
>
>Spence disagreed with Gwin's argument.
>
>"Common sense is going to prevail here," Spence said. "You can't
>tell me that a ferret is a service animal."

AND HE IS WRONG!

Just ask Wolfy Stout how Rocky helped Sean. Just ask Chris whose ferret
performs the same seizure alert function. Ask others.

HOW MANY PEOPLE HERE HAVE FERRET SERVICE STORIES TO SHARE, PLEASE?

>He evicted Gwin and ordered her to pay $99.50 in court costs.
>
>Gwin said she was surprised by the decision.
>
>"I'm shocked that no matter what a doctor says, a service animal is
>only a dog," she said.
>
>She plans to appeal the decision.
...
>Gwin is considering whether to join a federal lawsuit with Kathleen
>Kleinmann and Robert Milan against the George Washington, 82 S. Main
>St., Washington.
>
>The hotel unsuccessfully tried to evict Milan, who uses a wheelchair,
>because he has a dog. Milan says the dog is a service dog. The George
>Washington said Kleinmann allowed a person to stay in her apartment
>for extended periods of time without management permission.
>
>In February, Spence dismissed those efforts, saying the complaints
>were defective.
...
>As executive director of the Tri-County Patriots for Independent
>Living, Kleinmann, who also has a disability, helped Milan get the
>apartment at the George Washington.

...
>A temporary injunction in the federal lawsuit prevents the two from
>being evicted, Kleinmann said. She said a hearing is scheduled
>Tuesday to determine whether the injunction should be permanent
>while the case goes through the federal courts.

Remember that Lucy Gwin is NOT the only person who uses ferrets as
service animals to warn in time so that seizure meds can be taken and
seizures avoided, or the person can get down before falling down.

Here is an easily accessible article about another, and I know I have
read of others so nay help on that regard would be a big assist for
Lucy Gwin:
>
> http://www.extremeweezils.com/ewfriends.html#cerino
>  from
> http://www.extremeweezils.com/ewfriends.html

Sukie (not a vet)

Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html

[Posted in FML 5940]