Saturday, December 26, 2015

Arizona Family Gets OK To Keep Pot-Bellied Pig For Emotional Support Needs Of 9-Year Old Son w/ Asperger's Syndrome; City Changed Initial Position After Family Attorney Submitted Written Request For A "Reasonable Accomodation" Pursuant To Fair Housing Law

In Chandler, Arizona, KPHO-TV Channel 5 reports:
  • On Thursday, the Gil family learned their son Julian's therapy pig Maggie would be allowed to remain in their Chandler-area home. The family was not available for an interview Thursday but their attorney said they are ecstatic.

    The decision came after months of back and forth.

    Maggie is a pot-bellied pig. In August, the city notified the Gils that they were in violation of city code because pigs are not allowed in residential neighborhoods. A neighbor had filed a complaint.

    The family argued Maggie is not livestock; she's an emotional support animal. Their 9-year-old son Julian has Asperger's syndrome, and Maggie, they say, has been instrumental in his progress. "When I'm sad she goes near me and makes me happy," Julian told our crew last month.

    With the help of attorney John Schill, the family filed a reasonable accommodation request under the Fair Housing Amendment Act. On Thursday that request was approved, meaning Maggie can stay.

    "It was very good news to say, 'Hey, we won. Maggie gets to stay with Julian,' because there was a point in time when they first contacted me that I didn't know if we could win this case. I didn't know if Maggie was going to be able to stay with Julian," Schill said.

    Now, that angst and uncertainty has been put to rest for all involved.