(DONATIONS ENDED)
Thank you for all that you did to help us
Our one year battle would have been unbearable if it wasn't
for all of you and your support. We're forever thankful.

October 21st 2011

This is the remainder of a long overdue update. I apologize for not posting any news since last month, but we are in the "discovery" stage of the lawsuit against the Community Improvement Assoc. (stirred by the HOA Board of directors).

During discovery, each side accumulates evidence and experts to support their case. Obviously we can't publish what our material is until we know we will use it, since the HOA and other HOA informers, periodically survey our website to see what we're up to and then use our information against us by bending what why say etc... We just need to be little smarter - hence the (unfortunate) delay... Sad, but that is where it's at ...

Anyway, we were fortunate to find well qualified experts to support our case willing to testify - we will make their name public once we've cleared it with our Lawyer. If you would like to recommend more experts, please email us (wilbursardo@gmail.com). The more experts, the better, of course.

I am sure that by now you’ve read the latest media coverage article (http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/10/21/40813.htm which basically summarizes it all) ... That is as up to date as you can get.

Right now, and for the next few weeks, we will continue with discovery and depositions, which will then be followed by a court-hearing date. Once we know the date, we will let you know so that you can be present during the hearing if you wish.

On other news...

We finally received a copy of the (non binding) survey which the HOA board sent out a few months ago. We counted 56 negative votes and 81 positive votes (one of the votes were ignore because a neighbor scratched out the words 'all other animals' and only agreed to Wilbur) - or something along those lines -- go figure ... I guess the HOA wants either to have Lions and Wilbur or none at all ... Anyway, 112 Neighbors did not vote as they were either confused, did not care, or did not like the biased survey (I know that many that came to see us back then said they could not vote as it was a biased survey and there was not a clear positive voice -- it was either "let all animals in the neighborhood or none").

Most of our neighbors do not have a problem with us having Wilbur as our pet, so that was very encouraging. Like any neighborhood, there will always be a few that do not like animals or do not understand the joy a pet brings and find pleasure attacking other pet owners -- that's life ... I guess...

The overall poll shows that only 20% of the 250 neighbors do not agree with Wilbur being here (none of them have been in our home or came to visit and talk to us -- they just consider Wilbur livestock because he looks like a pig) which goes to show that the majority of people are educated enough to understand the difference between a potbellied pig which is a pet and a traditional farm pig which is considered livestock.

It also goes to show that most people can recognize when they are being manipulated by a biased survey. Their hand-written comments on many responses are refreshing to read to say the least...

In the end, every neighbor that came to visit us and saw Wilbur and our backyard could not understand what the fuss was all about and wished that the HOA would concentrate on more important issue instead of spending money on trying to separate a family from their pet. Yes, Wilbur IS a pet, which does not bother anyone. He is quieter than the many of the neighboring dogs, so quiet that most residents did not even know we had Wilbur, until a few months ago, when this story went public...

What's next?

We will allow the HOA to take the depositions of our experts, then once we request and obtain the documentation that we require, we will file it all with the Judge to see if he can make a decision or decides to go to a full trial. I will let you know as we progress in the next few weeks...

Thank you so much for all of you continuous support and relentless words of encouragement - I do not think you know what a great difference that makes.

This is a precedent setting case. What it means is that with our fight, we are fighting for the right to own a potbellied pig as a pet, which is the very reason why they were bred and imported in the first place. With your voices, we are hoping for the Judge to see how our HOA is manipulating the deed restriction by calling our pet "livestock". How hard can it be to see that Wilbur is a DOMESTICATED pet? He can sit, he comes when you call, he asks to go out, and he cuddles with you. He listens and all he wants is to be cared for - and - we love to care for him. He is a member of our family!

Keep us in your prayers and God Bless you for being so supportive...

Until next time...
 

September 16th 2011

Two weeks ago, we formally offered to the HOA Board to withdraw the lawsuit and save money to both sides (we offered to pay our lawyer/costs out of our own pocket and not seek any cost recovery and end the lawsuit altogether). All that we asked in return was that they allow us to keep our pet, Wilbur within the family as he has been for the past 10 months.

Today September 16th, the HOA Board filed a refusal to our proposal for settlement and opted to proceed with the law suit and go to court instead...

Their decision will now effect everyone in the Thicket neighborhood since there are going to be considerable costs associated with this lawsuit in the next few months (it can run in exces of $50K+) which will have to be somehow recovered... I am not quite sure that the current HOA insurance will cover it all (no one could get an answer when this question was asked at the last meeting).

I am truly sorry that we could not work this out in a neighborly manner, considering Wilbur, our potbellied pig is not livestock as the HOA Board stated, but a household pet (as classified by the United States Department of Agriculture). A pet which does not bark, or run wild in the neighborhood ... A pet that lives inside our home with us and does not bother anyone. A pet that many of our neighbors have grown to like and many thousands more watch him eat his daily meals on his feeding webcam...

As some of our neighbors rightly said.... Why can't we all just get along? ... Who is Wilbur bothering?

September 9th 2011

...Emails like this one makes us realize of how much Wilbur is loved and enjoyed by so many people around the country and overseas ...

"Dear Wilbur and family- My job is very stressful and I often leave work feeling defeated and fairly worthless. Often, I don't even have time to eat lunch. But whenever I feel bad, or am ready to give up, I watch Wilbur's videos on You Tube and I somehow manage to get through the rest of the day. I wish I could change the world and make it a more just place for everyone, animals included. And while I know I can't change the world, I'm really going to try to change my small corner of it. Good luck, Sardo Family"

September 7th 2011

In the last HOA meeting there were residents who asked for information about the Wilbur case. Information such as the lawsuit document which is a public document and also who is doing what and why this lawsuit was filed - they all received a relentless "You will have access to the information once the lawsuit is over" from the President - which, of course will be too late to have a say on how our annual dues are spent, or how the Board has/is acting ... The president said that due to the "gag order" imposed on the Board, they could not discuss any details. Period.

We have checked with our lawyer and he has confirmed that most of the questions can be addressed publicly to the residents of the Thicket. So, we decided to invite the thicket residents, to a private meeting at our own home next week. Since the Board can not be involved in the "pig issue", no Board of Directors have been invited and will not be allowed to attend. I also believe that having this informal but open meeting will give all the residents an open platform to voice how they feel about Wilbur, and perhaps see for themselves how Wilbur behaves in his daily environment.

We are extremely lucky to have found a really professional, knowledgeable lawyer that not only understands HOAs and its governing laws, but is very approachable. He has kindly offered to be present at our meeting to guide us and to answer any question that The Thicket residents may have.

A couple of hundred letters went out today to all residents -- hope to see a good turnout, at least enough to spread the word to others (as many work till late). We are very thankful to all residents that have already contacted us and offered their support and look forward to meet more residents next week, so they can understand what has been happening for the past two months.

September 6th 2011

Well, yesterday meeting was quite an interesting one. Before the meeting started, the current President of the board Larry Cronin came around and physically started grabbing Alex's camera saying that he was not allowed to record the meeting. Under Texas Law, and the Homeowners Association Code, any member can with or without the Board of directors consent record any public meeting. I do not have the correct "legal" wording, but our lawyer agreed that we did not do anything unlawful and Alex was within his rights to wanting to record the meeting. Nevertheless Mr. Larry Cronin was very physical in grabbing the Camera and attempting to pull it off Alex's hands. The full audio of this event was captured on tape before the camera was switched off. About 20 homeowners/witnesses were present at that time in the same room.

One of the questions raised by the homeowners was a request to review the lawsuit papers that we had to file against the Association. Again, the President of the HOA took the lead and quickly replied that he (the homeowner) will have a chance to review such document once the lawsuit is over - Obviously another attempt to hide public information by President, since the lawsuit is a public document. We would like to make such document available here for anyone interested in reviewing it.

Larry Cronin also stated that the annual dues will not be increased as a result of this lawsuit since the insurance company will cover all costs.

I want to conclude this update saying that The lawsuit is against the Association and not The Thicket residents (many of which already agreed with us that Wilbur should stay as he's not bothering anyone).
 

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