I was in Florida at a restaurant and a lady came in with her skunk, Flower. She walked table to table and the manager was beside himself with skunk hair flying. The lady kept saying that Flower was her service animal. The manager was afraid to say a word. It was disturbing and this service/comfort animal thing has gotten out of hand.

People have severely abused all of these animal laws, likely to backfire soon, until then landlord beware.

Just NO.  This is exactly why I no longer do managment and sold my investment properties.  Just NO.

Fred,

On our frequent travel flights, I have met many emotional support animal, not a squirrel yet, although a friend of ours has a family of squirrels in his back yard that he feeds regularly.  I think more than ever there are so many people who feel disenfranchised from the world at large.  They find peace and solace with their creatures, it is a function of staying sane.  It is far better than Prozac or Xanax.  I feel for them.  A

Floriduh!
Actually, as long as the squirrel is free of disease and not dangerous to others, who are we to tell somebody what kind of a pet makes them happy? It's probably lower maintenance than some of the dogs and cats and pot belly pigs. Cute little critters!

Brutis is awfully cute but does he have his shots?

In CA it is so messed up. I listened to a legal webinar from CAR on it, but still did not a clear idea, since the tenant/owner have to prove why that pet is so important for their emotional and physical health and safety. So, seems like it is case by case here and up to an individual HOA or management and each community rules.

p.s. It might change by now since they constantly change laws in CA. 

Well, I would ask, 'What's next?' but, nothing seems to surprise me these days!

There are MANY things in our world that has gotten out of hand - this being one of them!

My opinion is that *some* condo associations and some people with so-called service animals have crossed the line of common sense, in my state squirrels cannot be a "pet".

I am with Debbie Reynolds things are out of control!

I'd rather deal with someone's pet squirrel than a non-stop yapping little dog.

I was taught to believe that service animals must follow ADA guidlines. It is not up to the owner of the animal to decide.

We used to have a girl that would come into Starbucks with a rat on her shoulder. The manager of Starbucks was afraid to say anything. But I always wondered what he would have done if a person that was terrified of rats started panicing, screaming and even becoming ill?

I am a pet lover, but there has to be guidelines or there will just be chaos.

I think he should be able to keep her. I'm a sucker for a cute abandoned squirrel that someone rescued.  He should have been more secretive about it. He'll be having problems now.

She doesn't have her vest on either.

We have let go of our senses and the liberal courts are showing us how stupid we are!

I did see that and also saw a story on a support pig. They need to crack down on this and reguate it with 1 set of laws for all

Hardly anything surprises me anymore.  Since some cultures consider dogs to be nasty animals the ADA regulations have a new, separate provision about miniature horses that have been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.

An abused notion.

I have to join the ranks in saying that this whole thing is out of hand.  Additionally, it has to be tough to manage the lease for the support animal in one hand and the trophy for waking up in the morning in the other....! 

I heard that story... but I have no clue what the courts will do!

It should trump the no pet rule ! Keep us informed !

Bob Crane nailed this one!

If I understand the laws regarding service animals correctly an emotional support animal is not considered a pet. They can't be declined by a landlord in much the same way as a service animal can't be declined in a rental or a public place.

Landlords can't charge "Pet Rent" for service or emotional support animals, perhaps both of these contribute to the rapid rise of emotional support animals?

Great question for an attorney. 

If the animal could talk I bet it would have a different take on this

Where are the voices of protest regarding the local terrorist organization called PETA?

We have given crazy @ss animal rights people a blank check. Animals have more rights than a homeless human being.

These same people get red in the face because those in PR are still suffering from the hurricane, Yet they charter a plane to bring animals from PR to Tampa Bay.

Yep, priorities are a bit askew. So bring on the skunks and pigs.

Place a crying baby next to one of this crazies and you will see how truly selfish they are.

Thanks for sharing this unusual case.

Fred Griffin I saw this on the news the other day. I believe the condo association needs to worry about big issues.

No idea about the squirrel.

A squirrel, now that is going to far.

I too think this whole thing is out of control.

People bond with a variety of pets. A boy that lived by me became friends with a skunk. The skunk followed him everywhere. He'd call the skunk, and skunk would run to him, and climb up his pants leg, and sit on his shoulder. Some people like snakes, birds, ferrets, etc, and i've seen more than one Iguana in a tank or bathtub. The squirrel wouldn't bother me. We have opossums that come up on our deck and play with out cats. We've had pet ducks that come inside for the winter and stay in a dog crate in our kitchen. The courts could easily side with the squirrel as a service animal, but why didn't he need a supposrt animal before finding the squirrel?

It is getting out of hand.  If it we my establishment I would be asking for he Dr.s report otherwise the animal stays out.

As far as I know, it only applies to legit service animals.

I have no opinion.

I saw that TV.... who would keep a rodent as a pet.... it's a rodent....

I have always thought that if you see a squirrel here is a nut too far way. 

I do not know how this will fare in the judicial system. 

What I do know, and believe with all my heart, is that humans can and do connect better with animals than other humans.  Any animal can provide emotional support ... which we all need.  A squirrel, a rat, a cat, a dog, anything we can love provides support.  Animals, for the most part, offer unconditional love and acceptance ... which is rare to get from a human.

Hey, at least he is housing the squirrel inside and the squirrel isn't MAKING a house in the attic. They sure are cute but can wreak havoc when making nests.