My previous blog post, dealing with the request from a resident to permit a 30 pound boa constrictor as a companion animal generated a few comments from readers. As the internet can be a raw, unfiltered place from time to time, here at the family-friendly Fair Housing Defense blog I don't post the comments from readers, although I do review them. Safe to say that some readers were appalled that anyone would consider a 30 pound snake a companion animal (particularly with one toddler at home and another child on the way). Another reader was aghast that I would even question the request as my post obviously shows bias in that I don't know anything about snakes. (Which, by the way, is true).
Another, more helpful, reader included a link to a reported decision from a federal judge in Washington state from 2006 in which a resident from an apartment community sought a boa constrictor as a companion animal.
The point of the post was to again note the wide range of reasonable accommodation requests received by management. And that while our leasing office team members will absolutely review and evaluate each request, there are some that we just cannot do. I also see (and want to report on) what appear to be some requests from residents simply attempting to avoid pet rent and pet fees by getting their pets classified as service or companion animals. Indeed, one of my clients got another such request this week. I worked to draft a careful response indicating why the medical verification (which rejected the designation that the specific dog should be a companion animal) did not support the request.
Oh, how did the court rule on the request that a boa constrictor be permitted as a companion animal? The judge rejected the request.
Just A Thought.
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