An Iraq war veteran who suffers from seizures and post-traumatic stress disorder following his service says he and his family are being kicked out of their suburban Chicago apartment because of his service dog.
Jon Jans says he and his family were "ambushed" when they received a letter for their Oak Forest apartment's property manager saying they had to be out of their apartment by Aug. 31. The management company cited "unsanitary conditions" due to the family's service dog, but the family denies those claims.
Jans, a Marine, was injured when he was hit by a roadside bomb during his 2005 tour in Iraq.
“My brain got injured in the blast so I have seizures and blackouts now,” he said.
He also suffers from PTSD, and his dog Alli aids him.
“If I’m standing somewhere she’ll sit down and watch my back and make sure no one approaches me. If we’re in a large group of people she’ll walk circles around me,” he said. “I automatically go back into a combat mindset where everything is trying to hurt you, everyone wants to kill you. And to have somebody or something watching your back is a huge asset.”
Jans’ doctor prescribed him an “emotional support animal” to cope with the disability.
But Jans and his wife say that they’re being kicked out of their apartment, where they’ve lived for four years, because of Alli.
U.S. & World
“I’m outraged,” said Jillian Jans.
Manchester Court’s property manager, Carla Contreras, shared with NBC Chicago a letter to residents calling the Jans’ claims “malicious.”
“Because of unhygienic conditions within the specific apartment and in the courtyard as created by the dog, Manchester Court has elected to not renew this lease,” the letter read. "Manchester Court does not want other residents, particularly children and the elderly to be subjected to the bacteria created by the occupants of the non-renewed apartment.”
The letter alleges the family “repeatedly” chose to not pick up after the dog or “keep their apartment in sanitary condition.”
“[Jon] has short-term memory loss. If he lets [Alli] outside and he gets distracted by our 4-year-old then yes she’ll be outside,” said Jillian Jans. “She is not a threat to anyone.”
The Jans insist they’re not aware of any dog feces that weren’t picked up. They said they instead experienced flood damage that raised eyebrows with the city, not dog refuse.
Manchester Court said it complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and welcomes everyone, including veterans and service dogs.
The Jans said they plan to speak with an attorney.
