VIRGINIA -- Eviction notices are served to Dinwiddie County pit bull owners who refuse to get rid of their animals.
Pit bull owners at the Green Acres Trailer Park are now on notice to appear in court. Management gave the pet owners months to either get rid of their animals or move off the property. Now, the pit bull owners who did not comply are gearing up to plead their case to a judge.
The sheriff's office went door-to-door handing out summonses. Arieal Lilly, who was served, says she's ready to battle for her pit bull.
"I didn't want it to get ugly, but it had to and so we'll take it to court," said Lilly.
She, along with several of her neighbors in the trailer park, are at odds with management.
For more than a decade, those living at the Green Acres mobile home park have been allowed to have pit bulls on the property -- despite tenants signing notices agreeing not to have the animals.
But the new property owner decided to enforce the pit bull ban policy.
"It should be some kind of a grandfather clause we should fall under," Lilly added.
Management offered one comment about this latest development.
"We filed the paperwork and it's in the judge's hand," said Matt Foster, spokesperson for Green Acres.
Management gave residents the ultimatum in February. Residents had until June 29th to comply.
In the past, management has said it's just "enforcing rules and regulations for the safety of residents and liability purposes." Now that the case is heading to court, Martin Wegbreit with the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society says the pet owners should be well prepared.
"The bottom line on a case like this is for a judge to decide if its fair for these tenants to have to suddenly get rid of their animals when they've had them for years and years," said Wegbreit.
Nicole Bell: "If a judge disagrees with you what do you do?"
Arieal Lilly: "I'll have to go - that's the only option but I'm not going to go without being heard."
The pet owners have two lawyers, working pro bono, to help them during the court process. The case will be heard in court on July 16th.
(NBC12 - July 1, 2012)
