Nicholas Olenik, a US resident who names his pets after characters from the anime series Dragon Ball Z, faced a legal battle over his decision to keep an emu as an emotional support animal. Olenik introduced “Nimbus,” his emu, into his life, claiming it helped him combat depression with a doctor’s approval. However, city officials in Virginia Beach deemed it a violation of animal regulations.
After a neighbor reported Nimbus to animal control, Olenik was cited for keeping livestock within city limits. This led to a lengthy legal dispute as Olenik, who is running as an independent candidate for the 96th District of the Virginia House of Delegates, fought to keep his emu companion.
Olenik’s struggle with depression began after the loss of his brother to a heart attack in 2019 and his father to cancer almost two years ago. Nimbus provided emotional support, and Olenik stated that the emu’s presence motivated him to engage with the world again.
Despite a medical provider’s endorsement of Nimbus as an alternative therapy animal, not everyone in the neighborhood approved of the large bird’s presence. A neighbor raised concerns with animal control, leading to a warning for Olenik to remove Nimbus. When Olenik didn’t comply, he was charged with violating the municipal code by keeping livestock.
Olenik argued that Nimbus lived indoors and was a companion animal, not livestock, seeking an accommodation from the city to keep her. However, city officials denied his request in May, leading to an ongoing dispute between Olenik and his neighbor, who reported Nimbus.
Related Topics:
