Help Fight HOA Tyranny and Injustice

I am heartbroken to report that our homeowners' association does not like the way the dogs look in our yard. We have already been fined and we have been ordered to remove the sculptures. They claim that they are architectural, although they are not ; according to my understanding of the word. They each weigh about 3,000 lb so it's going to be an ordeal. I put so much of my soul into these gardens and I am disappointed but not down. No one will ever have the capacity to knock me down. I only hope that they stop at the dogs and don't make me remove all of the gardens.

Some people don't understand art or history or the soul of a gardener.

Since this ordeal has begun we discovered that the board and the management company levied the fines and told us to move these dogs without the legal process, called due process. We have been harassed and even threatened by the management company. The three members of the board will not speak to us at all.

We have called several attorneys and the cost is very high to fight an HOA, even HOAs in breach of their fiduciary duties and due process.

We were told that we were looking at "tens of thousands" of dollars. $5,000 retainer to start and $450 an hour

If the board and the management company do make the right choice and legal representation is not required we will refund all donations.

A bit of background on the sculptures, which were a Mother's Day gift to me from my husband.

They were carved in Italy by world-renowned sculptor, Salvatore Florenti Albano in approximately 1872 for Wisconsin state senator and Civil War officer, John Lendrum Mitchell. His son, Billy Mitchell, is widely known as the father of the United States Air Force. He served as an officer in World War I.

We are not wealthy people. I was blessed to find these sculptures for sale and have them moved from Wisconsin into our garden. We have lived in this home for 14 years and have never needed permission for any statues or plants. Until the new board came along. And they simply aren't nice people.

The sculptures are filed with the Smithsonian.

In rendering a decision to deny us the right to have these statues, the homeowners association has to prove that they negatively affect property values. Our property values went up 14.7% last year. We do believe that the harassment is personal.

It is difficult to ask for money in this economy but we know many people agree that homeowners associations are overreaching and often run by some not very nice people, as is our case.

If you can donate we would appreciate it so very much. Again, if the board comes to their senses and we don't require legal assistance then we will refund every penny. Thank you for your consideration. Please share this and share our story.