A Montreal woman with autism is battling to have her emotional support dog returned to her after being forced to part with the animal due to complaints from her apartment building management.
Heather Yampolsky, a 63-year-old resident of a subsidized housing unit in Montreal’s Mile End, adopted her dog, Honey, last fall, and the animal quickly became a key part of her daily life. Yampolsky, who had struggled with emotional numbness before adopting Honey, explained that the dog helped her re-engage with the world and improve both her mental and physical health. “I was emotionally frozen… I couldn’t feel anything,” Yampolsky said. “But after getting Honey, things started to turn around for the better. I began to want to engage with the world again.”
Despite Honey meeting the apartment’s pet policy — dogs under 25 pounds, with Honey weighing in at 22 pounds — complaints from neighbors and building management about the dog’s barking and size led to the animal being removed. Yampolsky expressed regret over the painful decision to give up Honey, saying, “I feel like I betrayed her… I feel awful. I know it’s not my fault, but I can’t shake that feeling.”
Her close friend, Marilena Kalogridis, voiced her belief that Yampolsky had been unfairly treated. “It’s very unfair,” Kalogridis said. “I found she has been discriminated against.”
In response, Yampolsky has filed a complaint with the Quebec Human Rights Commission, seeking a resolution that would allow her to be reunited with Honey. Yampolsky remains hopeful that she will one day be able to adopt Honey again and experience the emotional support the dog once provided. “I hope one day I can readopt Honey and feel that love again,” Yampolsky shared.
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