A judge has ordered a southeast Michigan family to remove three out of four potbellied pigs from their rental home.

Stephanie Rowland went to court earlier this year to fight a citation that called for the pigs' removal after a neighbor filed a complaint in August. Rowland argues the pigs provide emotional support and medical assistance, and can be kept at the home under the Fair Housing Act.

The Ann Arbor News reports Judge Kirk W. Tabbey ruled Wednesday that Rowland must remove three of the pigs because the law only covers one animal. Tabbey ordered the city to investigate and find reasonable accommodation for the fourth pig.

The family plans to find a short-term home for the pigs while looking for a larger home they can all live in.

Interesting. Based on previous situations and direct guidance on the FHAA, the judge is incorrect. The law specifically does NOT "only cover one animal." They have actually explicitly stated that that is not the case.

I think maybe there is more to this and that is the simplified media version. My GUESS is that it is much more likely that the Judge means that the person's "healthcare professional" only stated that one animal was needed.

But I am curious of the details. :)

- John...

Oh! My mistake! First, the judge really does refer to the law itself -- not the doctor's orders.

But, more importantly, this was again a case of mixing the ADA and the FHAA (and usually I'm good at NOT doing that).

The ADA actually allows more than one support animal -- and that has been confirmed by further guidance. However, that further guidance actually specifically stated that that might NOT apply to fair housing concerns if having multiple animals might be an issue.

So, good to see some precedence here to confirm that!

- John...

P.S. It is also interesting that, in this case, ONE of the pigs may actually be trained and would qualify as a Service Animal. The other 3 were only ESAs.

She also argued that "The pigs do therapy work and educational programs and stuff like that."

Which, of course, we know doesn't matter since Therapy Animals have no standing in the FHAA or ADA!

I'm loving this case! :)

- John...

How many times can you write Actually in a Thread

Pigs are likely smarter than dogs. That fact that we eat them anyway is just a side issue.

In other words, I have no problem with the pig being an ESA (or even a Service Animal -- although the ADA only considers dogs to be those).

The real issue is just the NUMBER of animals. This case would actually be BETTER for us all if it involved 4 dogs instead of 4 pigs. But, I'll take it...

- John...

Sorry, it is just one of my tics, I guess.

Does it make me less credible somehow? *shrug*

Gack! Idiot law that makes a landlord allow 4 pigs inside his house. At least one judge has a smidgen of common sense, but I wouldn't be surprised if some handicapped rights group doesn't file to overthrow the ruling.

Vee: That's the thing -- I thought the same, but the details show that the judge ISN'T pushing back against the doctor. The judge is instead flat out saying that the FHAA doesn't allow multiple animals. Which is a GREAT interpretation for us!

It's very good news that the judge isn't saying the doctor was wrong. Instead, that the law doesn't allow it regardless of what a doctor might say.

We need more precedent like this.

- John...

That's wonderful 4 pigs in a house and they are NOT going to stay small.

And when they are not a cute cuddly little piglet. Grow bigger then the owners will not know how to handle them in the house. PLUS if they grow tusks as well.

Give me a break potbellied pigs as ESA!!

PMH OF TX, Just wait for it soon you will see donkeys and peacocks as ESA. Peacocks can make some harsh noise at times.

Pig roast block party anyone in a town in MI for Easter.

The only emotional support for pigs is a plate on the table with barbie pork with a lot of barbie sauce, bake beans, grits, texas toast. That took care of my hunger pains, yummy!!!

Need that case number to use as a precedent for our cases.

I'd love to hear what the LL says - I'm guessing he did not know they had 4. It's an upstairs apt.

3 adults, a baby, and 3 part time kids, plus 4 pigs. The largest weighs 160 pounds.

Interesting that this is the CITY citing them, not a peep from the LL.

BRAD

It is interesting, as Brad mentioned, that the landlord hasn't been mentioned really. I mean, this is a case where the city issued a CITATION. In most areas, the problem is that citations like that are usually issued to the property owner -- not the renter.

I guess I'm just surprised that the city directly issues a citation to the tenant.

Again, good news for us -- but again, surprising.

- John...