The Gil family from Chandler, Arizona, have been told that their son
Julian's therapy pig Maggie will be allowed to remain in their home.
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 said 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.
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 said 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.
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