I need advice but it's not really to do with signs

Ok so I don't even know why I'm writing this here. I might even just be venting more than anything. I need advice and I feel maybe scorpios may be the best to ask 😛

Some of you may already know I use a wheelchair. I've recently moved out of home and into one of my own. It's a government home because it's the only way I could get a wheelchair accessable place. The manager of this house has said I am not allowed to keep my dog here but that I could write to the person above her and ask them for permission instead.

The reason I have my dog (he's just a small foxy) is for the obvious security risks that are a little higher when you're an 'invalid' but also because I have O.C.D...not the afraid of germ type but the thought type. I have high anxiety and every noise I hear when I'm on my own I think it could be something threatening or dangerous. I have medical certs that state I offically have acute anxiety and clinical depression.

I put all of this in the letter I wrote for permission to keep my dog and they have still said no. I don't want to give up. The minute I read this letter I felt SOO angry!! Like there was a ball of fire in my heart and stomach quickly expanding until I'll eventually have no choice than to just burst into a rage! haha. I want to fight for this but I don't know what the best strategical way to go about it would be. I have no friends or family that can take my dog and because of his age I've been told the chances of him being adopted are pretty low. I would rather be homeless and keep my dog than be at home alone, scared, looking at the walls...I know this might seem pretty over the top but I think anyone who's ever been isolated for a long time and only had a pet for company and basically sanity would be able to understand.

So any kind of advice would be appreciated. Even advice on how to take advantage of being a scorpio or...I dunno I'm desperate so just anything haha.

Oh and also I've already had my house broken into before I had even been here for two weeks so the security thing is definitely something I need to worry about.

Posted by QuietSt0rm
Girl, I can relate to you in so many ways. I don't have the wheelchair, but I've got the dog. (7 years) and I've always lived alone (isolated) so I'm VERY strongly attached to my dog. I've had the same issues as you, just finding places that will rent to me with him being a big dog. (rottweiler mix breed) For the same reasons as you, I can't imagine giving him up. So instead, I have to find places that are accepting of large breed dogs, which is no easy task. And they're usually dumps. :/

They're not likely to budge, because if they budge with you, they'll have to make those same accommodations for others in that home. Instead of wasting time & energy trying to get them to change their mind, I'd start to look elsewhere.

Aww I'm glad someone understands how I feel. I know before I got my dog I couldn't understand peoples deep connections witht their pets.

There is no one else in this home, it's just a small two bedroom normal house. The thing is that I live in a small country so government houses are never available...I can't get another house because the waiting lists are over two years long. The only reason I got this house was because I had nowhere else to go...so it was kind of like an emergancy move and the person who lived here before me was able-bodied but had lived here with his wheelchair bound mum (who past away a year ago)..so I'm actually very lucky. The only choice I have is to stay here and put up a fight. I'm a good debater and can put up a good 'case' I also go to uni doing a BA so I have the tools (even though they are very basic) to try and take this to the top both in a written way and a vocal way; I'm also not afraid to take it to the community..I just don't know how to go about it.

I like Quiet Storm's idea. Don't give up and keep trying.

My BF never takes no for an answer (Cancer not a Scorp). I see that his tactic is to argue nicely and calmly and he just keeps going until he gets the answer he wants. So I guess use charm and persuasion in your approach.
If worse comes to worse I think you should actually try email your local newspaper or news broadcast station about this. If the government home is contacted by a reporter the manager might decide it's better to accommodate you. Your story is pretty interesting and I'm sure most people would be on your side. I've had a friend who contacted the news when she needed help with a situation not even as serious as yours and they wanted to do a story on her but she was able to take care of things on her own so she declined.

I really hope things work out for you.
Hugz & good luck 🙂

Posted by BelovedAssata
Read the rest...yah no place to go...ask your doctor to write you a letter explaining why it'd be advantageous for you to have the dog...create a contract on liability on whatever damages the dog might do to the house and maybe see if they have any free lawyer clinic's at your school...they sometimes have those..free lawyer advice if you have to sue.

The doctor's letter and the contract that you will be liable for any damages caused by your dog is great advice! Also, I saw an episode on the "Dog Whisperer" where a woman with severe anxiety issues had her dog certified as a therapy dog. Then, legally, you could keep her/him. Keep us posted on how things go...

If your FIRST request to "the lady above" the apt manager is unsuccessful

- If "this" home has ALREADY been broken into since you moved in

well I would just simply go for the Sympathy/Fear/Overcome Objection COMBINATION:

"If you write me a letter telling me to get rid of my dog,
I guess I will have to do that. Please understand that he will be
put to sleep because the shelters feel that due his age
he will not be adopted and I don't know of anyone who is
willing to take him and the thought of him going to a stranger
who may abuse him in some way is killing me.

Also, I am confined to a wheelchair and generally helpless
( SYMPATHY VOTE - I KNOW YOU CAN PROBABLY KICK ASS - but SHE doesn't know that)
and the dog is a companion animal who helps me deal with
being all alone. Without him, I will be very afraid here.

I know "these things" are not your problem.

I pay my rent, but you don't provide me with any security
that deters burglars. If you force me to get rid of the dog
and I am murdered by someone who breaks into this place AGAIN
... I expect that there would be some criminal negligence issues
that you would be answering for, for years to come, and that
your legal representation in the matter could get expensive.

PLEASE can I keep my dog? If you have any general concerns
( eg. safety or sanitation etc. )I would be willing to
address them with you so that I can have A CHANCE to overcome them
to your satisfaction.

========================

Wow! I can't believe people have given such great advice!! I really thought I was being silly posting this here and was going to be ignored or find that people didn't understand. I appreciate every single person who has taken the time to help me!

I'm going to try and reply to everyone at once so you'll have to forgive me incase this is extra long!

QuietSt0rm - Thank you for the compliment 😛 I got sick of seeing that smiley face. The pet deposit idea is great! It shows not only that I do understand that the housing manager must have worries about the state of the house but that I am willing to take responsibility if anything does happen...which I 100% know it won't because he doesn't dig, chew or scratch things.

Virgodreams - That is an awesome idea too. I was already thinking of that but I wasn't sure if it would cause more harm than good but I don't really have anything to lose I guess. This isn't just about me and my 'problems' anymore; it now affects Chopper (you can laugh, my little brother named him 😛 ) and his life. So not only would it get people on maybe a moral and emotional level but there will be animal lovers out there who don't want to see a perfectly healthy dog be put down just because one lady says she doesn't want dogs at her property. I'm glad you also spoke of how your BF takes on things. I can argue 'til I get the answer I want but I get emotional quickly so I think I will try and find a way that I can do it nicely and calmly aswell. 😄

Amethyst2002 - I know, right? The thing that gets me the most is that by default you sign a thing that says no pets allowed but it's actually at the tenancy managers disgression...she has the absolute ability to say "I am ok with you keeping the dog but I need to know it's for aid and not anything else" or whatever.

Claire - Oh wow, spelling out exactly why I need my dog is a great idea. I do forget that not everyone understands and find myself in difficult situations because I have been ignorant about how others see things so this is definitely a great thing to remember!

BelovedAssata - I don't think I have any grounds to sue on because I did sign something that said no pets allowed but on another bit I signed it talked about documents to get permission for a dog and the tenancy manager put T.F on it...meaning To Follow...so I'm wondering if that helps me out a little... A letter from my doctor is a great idea though. That way not only do I have medical certs about my 'mental state'

Cont.

That way not only do I have th medical certs about my 'mental state' but I also have an updated letter from the doctor as well as my very obvious physical disability. Yet another idea I wouldn't have come up with on my own!

TheLadySagittarius - I love Ceaser! I haven't seen that episode yet though I did see another one with a young girl around my age who's physical disability was also a mental disability and he did say how important and helpful a dog is for both the disabled as well as the elderly. I also remember reading somewhere that if you can find away to focus a Fox Terrier's high energy into learning that they actually are very good therapy dogs. I never took that on board so therefore had never thought of your advice before. It's only 6am but already I'm looking for local dog therapy places here to atleast get some advice on how to go about it 😄

Scorpiopics - that was the approach I took with my first letter. In fact, my letter looks an aweful lot like yours but mine was longer and I had written it before the robbery. I love the bit about getting murdered if they choose to come back. At the same time though it's a really serious thing to write...which I like even more... They can't even argue that I'm being a drama queen if I said that because something has already happened..where as if I had said that before they'd be like "pfft this girl is trippin'!" 😛 I'm definitely going to work that bit in somehow.

Samiamascorpio - Aww thank you for the compliment as well! Gives me a bit of a confidence boost this morning 😛

I live in New Zealand...so...no where near the U.S but I imagine there must be similar laws here. I don't know what the government parties are named over there but here we have National (kind of like the business party) and the Labour party which is more helping families and helping the less fortunate I guess you could say. NZ has been run by the Labour Party for most of NZ's time so we have a lot of laws and rights for people with big families, people without homes, people unable to get jobs, and, of course, the disabled and elderly so I can't see how we wouldn't have something similar to what you're speaking of. I've started looking at places that do dog therapy here for advice so even if there is no law I think they would be a great form of support and help for me. I'm also going to take yours and the others idea of the doctors letter and make sure he uses Companion instead of Aid 😄

Sorry if this has been said...but can't your psychiatrist (assuming you have one that said you have acute anxiety and are clinically depressed) write to someone saying your dog is considered a service dog because of your condition? What are the laws in your area concerning service dogs?

Afterall, there have been a kabillion studies regarding the calming effects dogs have on humans....from things such as petting them and whatnot.

Oooo Oooo....OR! I wonder if you could somehow get your dog legally declared a service dog not for YOU, but by getting him/her some training or whatever you need to do to bring your dog to visit hospitals/retirement homes?!? Not sure how mobile you are, but thats another possibility!

Shadows!!!! I love the idea of getting him legally declared a service dog to take him to hospitals and retirement homes!!!! I'm mobile enough to do that! And I know that the way he makes me feel would be such a benefit for others, it would almost be selfish of me because it would make me feel good being able to let my dog help others.

He has a couple of bad habits...he can't be alone (he follows me room to room) and he can get quite nervous and when that happens he slightly loses control of his bladder (just like a couple of drops...still gross though!) but I think he may be acting that way because of me, my nervous energy upsetting him, so the training would probably cover that as well.

I would think I would need to be there when he's being trained...because I would have to be trained as well...so that gets me out of the house and socialising with others....and the end result, if it worked, would be absolutely amazing!!

Well, I'm totally rooting for you. You're not going to meet a bigger animal lover than me so I appreciate the position you're in. My pets are everything to me. I wish you tons of luck.

Oh I'm sorry. I see almost all of you already said therapy/service dog. 😢

LOVE the local newspaper suggestions. I bet that's the quickest way to win here! 😄