Florida Man Fighting to Keep His Emotional Support Squirrel and Condo

so we've discussed and debated emotional support animals (ESA) on the forum before. but here is an interesting case from real life: A Florida man has a rescued squirrel that he has kept in his condo since 2016. his condo association found out about it, told him to get rid or it or leave altogether. he then went and got it registered as an ESA. now it's a bitter fight and all in the news.

who's in the right?

read more here (w/ video): http://wfla.com/2017/11/10/clearwate...pport-squirrel

and here: https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2017/11.../3871510585179

or here: http://www.tampabay.com/news/bizarre...-her_162572481

gotta admit tho, it's a cute squirrel.

https://mgtvwfla.files.wordpress.com...pg?w=300&h=241
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...-311129796.jpg

That squirrel sure is cute! I know the whole ESA debate is heated, I'm curious to see where everyone falls on it.

Story:
A couple of weeks ago I was flying home from a business trip, the guy 2 rows in front of me falls asleep and his emotional support Pomeranian makes it's way back to my row and onto my feet. The pup was obviously very distressed, licking his lips and trembling. I wasn't sure where he came from but I let him stay on my feet the entire trip, and tried not to disturb him. His dude finally wakes up as we land and I tell the guy his dog has been upset. He says "yeah, he really hates flying." I was all, "maybe you should get him an emotional support animal." He didn't laugh, but I thought it was funny.

Well, first thing is nobody can "get an ESA registered", because there is no actual registry. All the claimed "registries" are just scams that send you fake certificates and letters lol. So this dude is just keeping a pet squirrel and taking advantage of the fact that 99% of the world doesn't realize all the registered ESA are scams.

An ESA can only be prescribed by a mental health professional, not even a normal family doctor. It's just a note, sort of like a prescription. And it is at the mental health professional's discretion, if they believe an ESA would be truly beneficial to the patient, after months of seeing them.

ETA: LOL I just found the link with the doctor's note in the article. Just grand :\

If that were WV I think DNR would come in, seize the squirrel, and fine the guy.

As long as you properly take care of the animal , have control over it's behavior, and keep it from destroying property or hurting people I have no problem with ESAs. It Buggs me when people flaunt it ... taking a yapping out of control dog/ pet into a restaurant or public area where it's obviously a disturbance.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hilabeans

That squirrel sure is cute! I know the whole ESA debate is heated, I'm curious to see where everyone falls on it.

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there are people who truly need ESA's but the line has gotten so blurred between actual therapy animals and pets. abuse has been rampant, usually when some landlord/association finds out the person has an "exotic pet" and they get a doctor's note after the fact to keep their animal where they are living. i support ESA's for the right reasons and those who truly need the animal. i do not support ESA's for someone who got caught by their landlord.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hilabeans

Story:
A couple of weeks ago I was flying home from a business trip, the guy 2 rows in front of me falls asleep and his emotional support Pomeranian makes it's way back to my row and onto my feet. The pup was obviously very distressed, licking his lips and trembling. I wasn't sure where he came from but I let him stay on my feet the entire trip, and tried not to disturb him. His dude finally wakes up as we land and I tell the guy his dog has been upset. He says "yeah, he really hates flying." I was all, "maybe you should get him an emotional support animal." He didn't laugh, but I thought it was funny.

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:rofl: good one! :gj:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by redshepherd

Well, first thing is nobody can "get an ESA registered", because there is no actual registry. All the claimed "registries" are just scams that send you fake certificates and letters lol. So this dude is just keeping a pet squirrel and taking advantage of the fact that 99% of the world doesn't realize all the registered ESA are scams.

An ESA can only be prescribed by a mental health professional, not even a normal family doctor. It's just a note, sort of like a prescription. And it is at the mental health professional's discretion, if they believe an ESA would be truly beneficial to the patient, after months of seeing them.

ETA: LOL I just found the link with the doctor's note in the article. Just grand :\

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condo management found out in April that he has a squirrel (it was chased by a dog), he got a Dr's note in July and the registered the squirrel @ https://www.registermyserviceanimal.com, the association/property management gave him an eviction notice last month. it's not clear when he was in a car accident for which eh has PTSD and needs an ESA. anyway i think they're going to court now. would be interesting what precedent this will set.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ba11er

As long as you properly take care of the animal , have control over it's behavior, and keep it from destroying property or hurting people I have no problem with ESAs. It Buggs me when people flaunt it ... taking a yapping out of control dog/ pet into a restaurant or public area where it's obviously a disturbance.

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ESAs aren't allowed in restaurants or any other area normal pets aren't allowed. They don't have the same rights as service animals. They just have certain permissions regarding housing.

I tend to lean on the side of the condo association and I'll tell you why.

Squirrels have a tendency to hide food, and they'll go to any length to do it.....including severely damaging property. I say that as someone who has lived in the woods my entire life and dealt with them every year.....ever been hit with a $5000 bill because a tree rat ate through the wires above your breaker box and INSIDE the walls?..... I have and it was the result of ONE animal stashing his winter supply of hickory nuts. We found literally thousands of them.

If I happened to live in a condo next to this guy I wouldn't want him having it without him signing documents that hold him directly liable for any damages the little furry bugger causes to the building as a whole and my property in the building as well.


He needs to move into a residential home in my opinion though, that would solve most of this. Condo associations/HOA's do not mess around with this kind of stuff and you will often find yourself losing any battle against them.....which is why I turned down several GREAT condos and residential homes in HOA's before I chose my new residence. A guy moving in with numerous snakes? They'll shut you down in a heartbeat if they find out.

What's the law in FL about owning exotics / native species as "pets"? In GA, where I live, it is not legal to take a wild native species as a "pet".

IMO, if you do actually need an ESA, it needs to be something that can be cared for and controlled properly within normal means. Squirrels are very destructive and I've heard that they can be aggressive and dangerous once they hit sexual maturity, even if "tamed". IMO, the guy could only safely keep this thing in a large cage or other rodent-proofed room and it would still need to be considered a wild animal.

This appears to be a case of a person wanting to keep an animal they shouldn't legally have and using ESA as an excuse to get away with it.

According to the ADA, service animals can only be dogs and have to be trained to perform specific tasks in relation to the special needs of their owner. Ex. A dog trained to sense a coming seizure of its owner or a dog trained to sense and alert it's diabetic owner of low blood sugar. Anything else is a pet. Like it or not, it is what it is.
Here is a good article regarding esa animals. The guy has no right to claim that squirrel is a service animal. He is part of the problem.
http://www.jems.com/articles/print/v...t-animals.html

Quote:

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Originally Posted by enginee837

According to the ADA, service animals can only be dogs and have to be trained to perform specific tasks in relation to the special needs of their owner. Ex. A dog trained to sense a coming seizure of its owner or a dog trained to sense and alert it's diabetic owner of low blood sugar. Anything else is a pet. Like it or not, it is what it is.
Here is a good article regarding esa animals. The guy has no right to claim that squirrel is a service animal. He is part of the problem.
http://www.jems.com/articles/print/v...t-animals.html

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ESAs are NOT service animals. Completely different, and ESAs only have permission to live in your home.

I dislike how people abuse this system, making it hard, if not impossible, for people who actually need it to obtain an ESA without a stigma attached. And the part about him getting the ESA paperwork AFTER the condo people tried to get him to remove the squirrel is aggravating.

Why is it that "Florida Man" always does this crazy stuff? lol

I honestly don't agree with the idea of an Esa at all. I'm not saying some people don't need them, if that's the case live in a place that allows them, now it's someone with a pet, there no need for an Esa title. I dont agree with forcing others to cater to you in such a way. If the landlord doesn't want animals in their house, they should have every right to say so. I even feel the same about snakes, live in a place that allows them. If they don't want them, they obviously don't want my money either, not a problem.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Starscream

ESAs are NOT service animals. Completely different, and ESAs only have permission to live in your home.

I dislike how people abuse this system, making it hard, if not impossible, for people who actually need it to obtain an ESA without a stigma attached. And the part about him getting the ESA paperwork AFTER the condo people tried to get him to remove the squirrel is aggravating.

Why is it that "Florida Man" always does this crazy stuff? lol

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It is my understanding that esa's carry no federal protections or privileges. They are nothing more than a pet that has a certificate which can be purchased online with no prescription from a doctor or therapist.

I recently saw a great dane as an ESA on a flight. I was livid. I hate how people are abusing a well meaning system to skirt laws.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SDA

I recently saw a great dane as an ESA on a flight. I was livid. I hate how people are abusing a well meaning system to skirt laws.

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wow really! did it have it's own seat?

also i just found this: https://www.boredpanda.com/animals-on-a-plane

50-plus pix and gifs of service animals, ESA's and pets on planes. i saw a mini-horse and birds seem to be quite popular including penguins.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ax01

wow really! did it have it's own seat?

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No! This is my issue with ESAs on planes. Far too often they take up space in a negative way. If you are adamant you need a great dane on a plane with you, you need to buy up the entire row to compensate for that.

How long before someone says they need their ESA retic python for emotional support on a transcontinental flight and it eats someone's chicken ESA and a fight breaks out?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SDA

How long before someone says they need their ESA retic python for emotional support on a transcontinental flight and it eats someone's chicken ESA and a fight breaks out?

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:rofl::rofl::rofl:
i just laughed so hard my coworkers know i'm not working...the mental image is hilarious.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SDA

No! This is my issue with ESAs on planes. Far too often they take up space in a negative way. If you are adamant you need a great dane on a plane with you, you need to buy up the entire row to compensate for that.

How long before someone says they need their ESA retic python for emotional support on a transcontinental flight and it eats someone's chicken ESA and a fight breaks out?

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Yeah well there are passengers that take more than one seat yet get charged only for one as well and if you complain about them encroaching on your space you get labeld a fat shamer.

- - - Updated - - -

Maybe in flight esa Pokemon style battles will become a thing?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SDA

How long before someone says they need their ESA retic python for emotional support on a transcontinental flight and it eats someone's chicken ESA and a fight breaks out?

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I'd lay 1-2 odds on the retic winning that one.

That animal is a lot closer to an EAT animal than an ESA animal. "Ma, go grab the skillet".

I think it is completely ridiculous. Ridiculous. I have mental issues, I see a psychiatrist, nobody NEEDS to take any animal everywhere with them, it is nonsense. they are just acting entitled.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SDA

No! This is my issue with ESAs on planes. Far too often they take up space in a negative way. If you are adamant you need a great dane on a plane with you, you need to buy up the entire row to compensate for that.

How long before someone says they need their ESA retic python for emotional support on a transcontinental flight and it eats someone's chicken ESA and a fight breaks out?

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SDA, you just jumped up another notch of awesomeness in my book. :rofl::gj:

Like I said, all the “purchased certificates” and “register your pet” that you can do online, no matter how legit the website looks, are scams. There IS NO registry for ESA. And ESA aren’t service animals. The problem is that most people don’t know this and think that the certificates and vests lawfully make an animal an ESA lol.

All that’s needed to make an animal into an ESA is a mental health professionals note, nothing else. ESA also get free flights in cabin.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by enginee837

Maybe in flight esa Pokemon style battles will become a thing?

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that's a very sig worthy quote!

#PokemonIsTheBest #TeamValor


Edit:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by redshepherd

Like I said, all the “purchased certificates” and “register your pet” that you can do online, no matter how legit the website looks, are scams. There IS NO registry for ESA. And ESA aren’t service animals. The problem is that most people don’t know this and think that the certificates and vests lawfully make an animal an ESA lol.

All that’s needed to make an animal into an ESA is a mental health professionals note, nothing else. ESA also get free flights in cabin.

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hmmm this official United States registry didn't ask me for my dr's note at all! i'm only a few clicks away from having my new ESA on the flight w/ me to visit my grandparents this holiday. i like how they make it so easy! very good service IMO.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/lhriSuq.png

***** - 5 stars!

:)

Its a joke plain and simple!
I feel bad for the people the actually NEED service animals to help the function.
ESA..... Suck it up butter cup and deal with life.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ax01

that's a very sig worthy quote!

#PokemonIsTheBest #TeamValor


Edit:


hmmm this official United States registry didn't ask me for my dr's note at all! i'm only a few clicks away from having my new ESA on the flight w/ me to visit my grandparents this holiday. i like how they make it so easy! very good service IMO.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/lhriSuq.png

***** - 5 stars!

:)

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Yup all those official .com sites with ridiculously long names.

This is so ridiculous I am tempted to see if I can register myself as an ESA so I can fly free by some advanced math style logic.

Condo should just make him sign a document saying he's responsible for any damages caused by the squirrel, if any. Also set rules for housing, like requiring caging. Anything else is just unnecessary.

Although, I will say, the title of this thread/article is so bizarre, I got a chuckle out of it. Oh, Florida.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ax01

hmmm this official United States registry didn't ask me for my dr's note at all! i'm only a few clicks away from having my new ESA on the flight w/ me to visit my grandparents this holiday. i like how they make it so easy! very good service IMO.

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LOL that's not an official government registry, it's a for-profit company overcharging for a "service" anyone with a laminator and engraver can give you for under ten bucks.