Retired Chicago Cop to Get His Service Dog Back, For Now
By Chuck Sudo in News on Dec 28, 2011 9:30PM
Jim Sak with his service dog, Snickers.
Sak and Snickers were forced to part ways after the town council of Aurelia, IA ruled against granting an exemption to the town's pitbull ban for Sak. Sak suffered a stroke in 2008 that left him confined to a wheelchair, with the right side of his body paralyzed. He was paired with Snickers during rehabilitation at UIC Medical Center. Snickers helps Sak walk, balance and call for help in an emergency.
Aurelia implemented the pitbull ban in 2008 after a meter reader was bitten by one. Attorney George Wittgraf, who's representing the town, said Aurelia is “simply exercising its authority to protect and preserve the rights and property of its residents — whether or not that’s trumped by” federal law. After the judge granted the injunction on behalf of Sak, he said, "Today I got my peace of mind back," Sak said. "I hope that nobody else has to go through what we went through."
Sak and Snickers may now stay together until the ongoing lawsuit between him and the town is settled.