Service Dog Banned from Iowa Town
Published December 22, 2011
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A service dog has been banned from a small Iowa town. NOTE: This is not Snickers, the dog mentioned in the story.
In the midst of the holiday season, one Iowa town is certainly playing the Grinch rather than spreading holiday cheer.
According to a story in the Chicago Sun-Times, a service dog belonging to a retired 32-year veteran of the Chicago police force has been banned from the small Iowa town of Aurelia.
Jim Sak, the former Chicago policeman, has been forced to relinquish his service dog, a Pit bull-mix named "Snickers". Snickers helped Sak on a day-to-day basis after the police veteran suffered a severe stroke. But after moving to Aurelia to help care for his ailing 87-year-old mother-in-law, the town put the kibosh on Snickers' arrival due to an apparent ban on the Pit bull breed.
In a vote by the Aurelia City Council, the town agreed to not allow any exception and in turn forced Sak to give up his dog, threatening to seize and destroy the dog by force if need be.
In a time meant to be spreading holiday cheer, all of this doesn't seem right at all. As a person in need of a service dog, it doesn't seem right that Sak, who served his community for 32 years, is being denied Snickers. In fact, the town's decision seems to conflict with the American Disabilities Act, which guarantees a person in need of a service dog the right to a dog, regardless of breed. The stage has been set for a landmark court case.
What do you think of this story? Is it right that the Iowa town denied this man a service dog? Share your thoughts in a comment.
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Comments (55)
It would seem that the good people of Aurelia are in direct conflict with the Americans With Disabilities Act. It is also apparent that we have lost our ability to function as a society when we blame animals for the bad conduct of human beings.
I was thinking just the very same thing. If that dog is indeed a Service dog, for someone with a disability, wouldn't that town be in direct violation of federal law? If this is the case, I wonder if he hired an attorney and told them to go to hell.
Wow. If Snickers is indeed a certified Service Dog, that council is up for some A**-whupping in court when his owner sues them. What incredibly stupid and small-minded people. And against a retired cop. Thank God I don't live in Iowa. Now I know I never will.
I have a service dog and these stories never cease to amaze me. During the two years it took for Shelby, my SD (service dog), to complete her training, we as human SD partners had near-constant training in laws surrounding service dogs. By federal law, SDs are allowed entrance anywhere that is open to a person. This includes restaurants and anywhere that serves or involves food, which is a frequent question. If any city or state's code states otherwise, federal law takes precedent. It's incredible there are still people out there, still people in positions of authority, that do not know such critical federal laws. This can make a life-altering impact, not only on this retired police officer's daily life, but on the lives of others: I have been featured in various media regarding my condition and my SD, and every time I end up being contacted by people who would like help in beginning the process of becoming a SD partner, something that often allows a person like me to get their life back, to become active members of society again, and in cases like mine, my life has depended on my SD, as I have been documented to have more than 100 seizures a day. They are typically predicted by Shelby, allowing me to get to safety to protect myself and her to protect me. Before Shelby, I was home-bound, afraid to ever step foot outside. Now I have the confidence to go outside these walls, knowing I can be safe. SD do amazing things. They are classified as working animals, not as pets. They are required, not a luxury. Shame on this town. They should take a lesson from the cards I carry in Shelby's vest, some of the information is as follows: The ADA is an Agency of the US Department of Justice Civil Rights Division 1 800 514 0301. (And btw, vests or any other identifying info are NOT required by federal law. Businesses are allowed to ask two questions of SD owners: 1-Is this a SD? and 2-What tasks does the SD perform? Businesses may NOT ask about a disability, require any ID of the SD, charge any special fees b/c of the SD. SD can't be made to leave a business UNLESS its behavior is out of control and the SD partner hasn't done anything about it.)
to all of the individuals that appear to be running this small little town in Iowa but want to reconsider there actions of this, because this is a direct conflict with the federal law in reguard to the American Disabilities Act and for the retired veteran of the Chicago police Department, I would take these individualsto Federal court who knows what the outcome shall be, But you just might be the new owner of this town after it is all said and done.JWG Terre Haute, Indiana
Um, hello, has anyone ever heard of the Americans w/ Disability Act? It is a violation of Federal law to ban a service animal. Get a lawyer and sue their ba!!s off!!!!!!
this is just awful and I would sue the town or I'd simply move but I wouldn't give up my dog, especially a service dog.