Retired Chicago Cop’s Service Dog Not Welcome in Iowa Town

Retired Chicago police officer Jim Sak,  moved to Aurelia, Iowa in Nov. in order to be closer to his 87-year-old mother-in-law. When the Vietnam Vet arrived, however, he was informed that his service dog, Snickers, was in violation of the town-wide ban on pit bulls.

Due to a stroke, Sak suffers from spasms on his right side, which can cause his leg to give out from under him. 'Snickers' is trained to notice when Sak's right hand begins to shake and to come and wait for Sak's commands. Often the dog will get Sak's wife who can then help Sak into a chair.

The ordinance in Iowa banning pit bulls was passed in March 2008, after a meter reader was bitten by a pit bill. During a city council meeting held Dec. 14th, the members voted (2 to 3) not to make an exception for Sak's service dog. Sak was forced to relocate the dog to a kennel outside of town the very next day.

Sak is sueing the town on the grounds that the Americans for Disabilities Act (ADA) guarantees people with disabilities the right to have service dogs, no matter what their breed. The Animal Farm Foundation group has hired an attorney to represent Sak, and is paying the dog's kennel fees.

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