Editorial: Couple deserved some compassion

Norman Hirsch and his wife, Renee, were facing eviction from the Flamingo West Mobile Home Park because they would not take down a temporary dog run and get rid of one of the dogs. Norman Hirsch, who is hearing impaired, uses one of the dogs to assist him with his disability in the same way a blind person would employ a seeing-eye dog.

But in early April, the couple was told that they would have to remove the dog run and within 45 days limit the number of pets to one dog, or face the prospect of eviction. In vain, Hirsch tried to explain to the mobile home park management that he needed both dogs because they provided different services that his condition required. But the mobile home park resisted efforts by Hirsch at compromising.

It's understandable that mobile home parks need common-sense rules that all should abide by for the betterment of the community. But at the same time the rules need to include compassion, allowing for extenuating circumstances. It's these kind of bullheaded decisions by mobile home parks and neighborhood home associations that give them a bad name.

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