As I type this, I’m sitting with my feet up watching some show that appears to be the animal equivalent of ‘COPS’ on the Animal Planet channel. I’ve become quite the connoisseur of melodramatic television programs lately, and this one fits the bill quite nicely. First, there’s the justice/catharsis element, and then, of course, there’s the significant ‘awww’ factor. I didn’t really grow up around animals, and really haven’t felt all that comfortable around them until the last few years. But now, well, let’s just say that I’m trying to think of creative ways to get around the no-pet policy at my apartment complex.
One great thing about working with so many lawyers is the fact that they know more ways to bend the rules than the average American. And when I mentioned to one of my colleagues that I wanted to get a cat but didn’t know how to get around the no-pet policy, the words had barely left my mouth before another coworker had replied, “Emotional support animal. Your landlord has to provide reasonable accomodation.” Then she turned on her heel and went off to solve even more people’s problems. It turns out that I’d just have to prove that I have a ‘mental disability’ (and really, is that so hard?), and that having a pet would ameliorate the condition. Apparently, there’s even a legal precedent to back her up.
Suffice to say that I’m not *actually* going to go to all the trouble, and that the burden of proof might be pretty high. I am, however, planning to start volunteering at the local SPCA with the intent of adopting a cat near the end of my lease here. God knows I don’t want to move again, so I’m thinking I may wait till the end of my lease and then tell my landlord I want to get a cat but that doing so would require her to find a new tenant. And if she balks, I’ll move (ughh, God, I hate even typing that). And if she’s desperate enough, she’ll cave and make an exception. Hm, yeah, we’ll see. In any case, I’ll be volunteering soon. And until then, I drag one of my coworkers with me every Friday lunchtime to go stare at the kittens in the window of the City Center SPCA. That’ll do for now, I guess. Well, that and LOLCats.
