East Harlem Woman With 5 Dogs Fights NYCHA Eviction Threat
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The city has ordered an East Harlem woman to get rid of her dogs or leave her apartment, and the woman said she should not be forced to make such a choice.
As CBS2's Hazel Sanchez reported, Tonya Boisseau, 60, lives in the Robert Taft Houses public housing development in East Harlem with her five shih-tzus – Mimi, 12; Gizmo, 11; and their 8-year-old offspring – Stella, Racer and Flossie.
All five dogs combined weigh less than 40 pounds, 1010 WINS' Al Jones reported.
East Harlem Woman With 5 Dogs Fights NYCHA Eviction Threat
"These are not dogs to me, and I get offended when people call them that. I know – I have common sense enough to know that they are animals," she said. "But they're not animals to me. They're my family."
But the New York City Housing Authority only allows one dog per household, as stated in her lease.
"Leave me alone about these dogs," Boisseau said. "You are killing me."
NYCHA has given Boisseau an ultimatum.
"Get rid of my dogs or I'm going to be evicted," she said. "The word, 'Get rid of' -- they're not garbage."
The former Rikers Island correction officer suffers from HIV and has a rare degenerative bone disease that makes it difficult to move. She said her dogs are her family and saving grace.
"They keep me alive, and I keep them alive," Boisseau said.
She showed CBS2 more than a dozen doctors' letters saying she needs her pets.
"It is imperative that Miss Boisseau be able to keep her dogs, which are a vital part of their treatment," one letter said. "It would be detrimental to her health if she was no longer able to have them."
NYCHA said it has been working with Boisseau for two years, offering family and social services to try to bring down the number dogs she has. But they've not been able to reach an agreement, so they will head to court.
Boisseau's pro bono attorney said NYCHA's demands to remove the dogs exceed a six-year statute of limitations on lease enforcement cases, since Boisseau had the pups living with her for eight years.
"They're everything to me," Boisseau said. "They're the only reason why I'm still here."
Boisseau said she cannot afford to move, so she would sell all her possessions and give up her home if that is what it would take to stay together.
NYCHA said the dog limit is intended to promote a safe and clean living environment for everyone in the development.
NYCHA and Boisseau will be in court on Tuesday, Sept. 1.
