Lawsuit: Student Needs Guinea Pig For Support

April 2, 2012 5:42 PM

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KALAMAZOO (AP/CBS Detroit) A student is suing a Michigan university for the right to keep a guinea pig on campus for emotional support.

Kendra Velzen, who reportedly suffers from depression and a heart condition, says Grand Valley State University in western Michigan is violating federal housing rules. The 28-year-old from Grand Rapids says a guinea pig helps her cope with physical and emotional challenges.

The lawsuit says the Allendale school backed off a bit and let Velzen have a guinea pig while a complaint was pending
with the Michigan Civil Rights Department.

But her lawyer says that accommodation could change anytime. Stephen Dane says he wants the school policy declared
illegal so his client and other students can benefit from therapy animals in the dorms.

Cathy Klotz, executive director of Intermountain Therapy Animals, said there’s an important difference between therapy animals — which provide emotional support — and service animals, which are used for essential functions like sight or alerting their companion to an oncoming seizure.

Intermountain Therapy Animals has 350 regular therapy teams and 3,000 teams registered around the world who visit hospitals, schools and homes for therapeutic purposes. Of those 3,000 teams, 98 percent are dogs, a few are cats, and there’s “an occasional mini-horse,” Klotz said, but none are guinea pigs.

“You can bring them in (guinea pigs) to see patients or school classrooms, but as a service animal? I’ve never heard of it,” Klotz said. “That doesn’t mean it can’t happen.”

Grand Valley State spokeswoman Dottie Barnes told MLive the student has been allowed to keep the guinea pig in her dorm since last year; adding they had not been served with the lawsuit and would not comment further.

“The university’s statement that they gave permission is false,” said Dane, the girl’s attorney.

He added that no training is required for therapy or service animals under the Fair Housing Act, and there are no restrictions on the kind of animals allowed to serve.

“The Fair Housing Act is not limited to trained therapy animals or service animals, there are no restrictions under the Fair Housing Act as to the nature of the animal that provides support or otherwise to tenants. There is one or more court decisions that say there is no training required … for emotional support animals,” Dane said.

“There are a lot of people who just don’t understand what the Fair Housing Act requires, and it’s too bad.”

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

richmondtommy

I think this case should be found in the University’s favor and she should be awarded the honor to pay all expenses by all parties. This stuff is just getting too dumb. WAH WAH WAH I WANT MY PIGGY, I WANT MY PIGGY.
Herb

What does the hamster do to provide stress reliief? Please don’t tell me. I don’t ned that mental inage haunting my dreams.

Bill in Houston

Ask Richard Gere!

http://www.jayforce.com/news/blitz-4512-the-watcher/ BLITZ – 4/5/12: The Watcher | JAYFORCE

[...] Student Sues University For Right To Keep Guiena Pig On Campus [...]
http://centeredpiece.wordpress.com centeredpiece

I love animals, but really! If she needs an animal fix, she can volunteer at a local animal shelter. Not only would she get her critter time, but studies show that volunteering helps depressed people recover.
http://sturjen.wordpress.com SturJen

You know, they eat those things in South America…..The Guinea Pig, I mean.
Templer8

Rules? Rules? I don’t need no stinkin’ rules. This soon to be an old maid and oh, so many more just won’t go along with the rules. Don’t like em? Sue. This attitude of I just want to do what I want to do and the hell with everyone else is surely another sign in the de-evloution of our society. Just as that Baldwin creep didn’t want to obey an order from a mere flight attendant, this persnickety prima donna doesn’t want to hear a discouraging word from the administration of a college that has been around much longer than this aging “student”. Sure, Baldwin, air travel is so much fun, while don’t we all “debate” flight attendants over the rules. Maybe the flight will take off in a couple of days after we all have our say. Admit it people, for this country, the fat lady is getting ready to sing.
ff

I ate guinea pig in Peru.

Delicious?
josetoyou

I a student doesn’t like the rules, find another school.
josetoyou

If a student doesn’t like the rules, find another school.
Karl

The real question here is did a Dr put in writing that she needed to have the rat with her?
Everyone talking about the fair housing law has forgotten to look into that.
If it is not deemed medically necessary then the law does not apply.
Joe Burger

Prospective employers will take note of this person and pass, pass, pass when it comes time to interview for a job.
http://www.politicalwrinkles.com/off-topic-bizarre-jokes-games/25862-lawsuit-student-needs-guinea-pig-support.html#post421593 Lawsuit: Student Needs Guinea Pig For Support – Political Wrinkles

[...] declared illegal so his client and other students can benefit from therapy animals in the dorms. Lawsuit: Student Needs Guinea Pig For Support CBS Detroit I couldn't decide if I should put this under the education forum or open discussion forum. But, [...]
Kathryn

All you people are RACIST against guinea pigs. Shame on you. People are louder, smell worse and are much more annoying than small animals.
AC

I had several rabbits in the dorm when I was in college. They tasted great.
http://www.petcare360.org/exotic-pet-care-guinea-pigs/ Exotic Pet Care – Guinea Pigs by Pet Care 360

[...] Lawsuit: Student Needs Guinea Pig For Support(detroit.cbslocal.com) [...]
http://same15259.wordpress.com same15259

She attends the College .She does not Run the College .

The G. Piggs were there when she agreed to attend College there .
What’s next ? Certain Foods served at school depress her .
This air head has huge “Other Problems ” as well .
She Needs to be in a nursing Home with Soft walls .
alan

If the student is that fragile she needs a guinea pig to cope, she should be tossed from school. What the animal dies, she is liable to go off the deep end and take 20 students with her.

JoeStack

Hey there’s an idea! that would solve this problem real quick. i vote for Alan’s idea. No wasted time or money on going to court and the bonus? NO MORE Kendra! I don’t think mommy and daddy loved her enough as a child. We need to find a guinea pig assassin and make it look like an accident.

josetoyou

This lawsuit is nonsense, and I hope the court will agree and not even waste their time. If the student doesn’t like the school rules, find another school which will allow her pet in her room. Any respectable attorney would not bother with taking this case…
whocares

I love guinea pigs but this woman is being selfish.
If she wants to keep pets she needs to move off campus and get some therapy so she can cope with stress a bit better.
Danny

Kendra sweety, if you must rely on guinea pigs for your emotional well being, you need more help than you realize.

You know what? Your lawsuit is nothing more than a ploy to satisfy the “sense of entitlement” that you possess. Your lawsuit is frivolous and utterly stupid.

Go back to your mommy. I don’t think an adult college is the place for someone that has to rely on a $25 pet for emotional stability.
kobutsumalone

The level of meanspiritedness here is troubling. I for one, support Kendra Velzen.
janvones

I wonder if her comfort pig would enjoy meeting my comfort cobra?
sgtted

What bunk. Grow up honey, the rest of aren’t here to conform to your every desire and wish.
Kelvin

Will school have to pay for guinea pig contraception to keep them from multiplying?
Diego Roswell

Sounds to me like a Jewpacabra.