OXNARD : Woman Allowed to Keep Signal Dog

An elderly Oxnard woman who is hard of hearing will get to keep the small dog she bought days after an intruder burglarized her home while she was there, an attorney said.

Elizabeth De La Gardie got a lawyer after the manager of the Ocean-Aire Mobile Home Estates said she was breaking the rules by keeping the canine.

She went to court against the mobile home park, arguing that Gretchen, a miniature dachshund weighing less than 10 pounds, was a signal dog that would help her hear.

Ventura County Superior Court Judge Frederick A. Jones issued a tentative ruling last week saying that Gretchen was in fact a signal dog.

Patrick T. Loughman, an attorney representing the mobile home park, said Thursday that he and attorney Edward J. Lacey had “virtually resolved” the case, but that some details still needed to be worked out.

“We’re still looking at crossing some t’s , but we’re very close,” he said.

Loughman said the area the dog will be allowed to roam and the size of any future signal dogs still must be agreed to, but that the mobile home park would amend its no-pet policy.

“I’m thrilled to death,” De La Gardie said. “I was so worried about losing her.

“I dearly love her and she does just what she’s told to do,” De La Gardie added. “She barks whenever anybody comes near.”