Thursday, April 30, 1998 | 10:14 a.m.
A hearing impaired man and his wife have filed a lawsuit against the mobile home park where they live in an attempt to avoid eviction because they have one dog trained to act as the man's ears and are training another.
Norman and Renee Hirsch stated in the lawsuit they filed Wednesday that management at the Flamingo West mobile home park at 8122 W. Flamingo Road told them they couldn't have two dogs nor a fenced dog run to exercise the animals.
The lawsuit charges the management with discriminating against a handicapped person and seeks more than $600,000 in compensation for the stress and related medical problems the Hirschs say they have suffered as a result of the feud.
On April 6, the couple was notified they must get rid of one dog and the dog run within 45 days or face eviction from the lot where they have lived for three years.
The couple stated that they told management their mobile home is for sale and the dog run that doesn't meet "community standards" would be dismantled when a buyer is found, but the eviction threat still was sent.
The letter to the couple from attorney Steve Marzullo stated that one Labrador "service dog" is acceptable, although it is taller than the 20-inch limit at the park, and two dogs are "unacceptable."
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