Blind man evicted for keeping dog

A blind man is being evicted from his Christchurch City Council flat for keeping a dog which he said turned his life around.

Yes, and I'm sure that a lot of people (vision NOT impaired) would say the same thing. The Foundation of the Blind is working hard to educate society that having a disability does not mean that one should be treated differently.

Community support manager Catherine McDonald said Hardy had been told he would have to get the dog registered as a guide dog if it was to stay.

I saw him on TV last night. The dog in the Dairy jumped up onto the counter, and the box of chocolate bars flew off the counter. The TV camera stopped rolling, and my question is... did he or the dog pick up the mess?

"Two months later the dog was still at his unit and we'd received complaints from other residents about the dog. These related to the dog barking and tenants feeling both intimidated and frightened by its presence."

McDonald said it was a "fierce looking dog".

If he were a Beagle... now he would have won some hearts:)

"Our prime concern is the wellbeing and safety of all our tenants.

One law for all... sorry buddy, but I have to agree with their decision.

"You can imagine it, if one of our tenants or a member of the public gets bitten by another tenant's dog."

The council had tried to go into mediation with Hardy about the dog earlier this month, but he did not turn up. MORE>>

Hum.... one can't mediate by themselves.

(...)

The dog was "gentle as", Hardy said.
"He doesn't sit here and nut off. He's not a noisy dog, he's pretty quiet."

"pretty" is the word that I'd like to know more... pretty quiet means a lot to different people.

I'm not sure why this even got to be on Cambell Live?? Is this a matter of 'the poor blind guy?"