Canadian toddler with CP can keep his therapy pony

From The Star in Canada:

Sam Spiteri, a 3-year-old boy with cerebral palsy, won't have to give up his beloved pony, Emily, Caledon Town Council ruled Dec. 10.

After a dispute stemming from a neighbour's complaint in August about the pony's smell, Sam's mom, Antonia, made her case before council Dec. 10.

The issue centred on a zoning bylaw; the Spiteris' property was rezoned from rural farm to rural residential in 2006, meaning they were to house no livestock.

But after national media attention and letters of support from as far away as Finland and Australia, council had no objections, Spiteri said, as long as the family took adequate care of the pet.

Sam received the pony when he was 6 months old and started riding before his first birthday. The family began a collection for the $800 fee to appear before council, but after receiving more than that from supporters, Spiteri says she'll put the money toward helping disabled people acquire animal-assisted therapy.

"I don't know if he realizes she's a pony. To him, she's just a friend. Once I explained Emily gets to stay all he wanted to do was go home to her."