All's well for Bloomingdale man with barking guide dog

In the end, everything is all right with Iggie.

Bloomingdale resident Tim Spencer and his guide dog Iggie avoided about $300 in fines from the condo association at 1 Bloomingdale Place on Wednesday night, following a meeting held in lieu of a formal hearing.

Spencer, who lost his sight two years ago due to a rare eye cancer, fought charges of code violations and fines from the condo board alleging Iggie disturbed neighbors with excessive barking.

Daily Herald coverage of the dispute last week moved residents from throughout the suburbs to step up with offers to pay the fines, provide free dog training and more. Their help and curiosity prompted Spencer to start a Facebook page this week titled, “Tim Spencer, Hear to See,” which shares info on topics like guide dogs.

“We shook hands, and agreed we are going to communicate better,” Spencer said.

He added that condo board President Wayne Rosmis, who lives in the unit directly next to the Spencer family, was instrumental in creating a compromise. Rosmis could not be reached for comment Thursday.

“Wayne is the one from their side that really wanted to come to a resolution and to step up and waive the fees,” Spencer said.

Iggie joined the Spencers less than one month after they moved into 1 Bloomingdale Place in October. The building normally forbids pets, but the condo board waived the rules for Iggie.

Spencer said they chose the building because it is near his son Andrew's school and wife Heather's work, and it offers indoor parking and security cameras. It is also reasonable commuting distance to Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, where Spencer said 3-year-old Andrew has undergone more than 40 surgeries for retinoblastoma, the same cancer that took Tim's sight.

When the family moved in, the association knew Spencer planned to travel to New York and graduate with Iggie from Guiding Eyes for the Blind, a group that trains guide dogs from birth.

But soon some complaints about Iggie's barking started piling up, along with fines. Spencer said the claims were exaggerated, noting many neighbors have been supportive.

Neighbor Shelly Cook, who lives a few doors away from the Spencers, wrote a letter in Iggie's favor for Wednesday's hearing.

“I have never heard any dog barking coming from their unit,” she said in the letter. “I think it is outrageous what the residents, our neighbors, have put the Spencer family through.”

Spencer was represented pro bono by retired Judge Nicholas Pomaro, who is also blind and now works for The Chicago Lighthouse. The nonprofit group, where Spencer once worked before leaving to care for Andrew full time, helps people who are visually impaired or blind.

The condo board was represented by Pam Park, an attorney with Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit of Buffalo Grove, who said they are pleased with the outcome.

“Based upon Mr. Spencer's statements, the board anticipates the separation anxiety and barking will improve with time,” said Park. “If not, Mr. Spencer has indicated his willingness to seek additional training for the dog.”

Spencer said he is not only lucky to have Pomaro's help, but he is also thankful for strangers throughout the suburbs who offered not only dog training and help with the condo fees, but dog sitting services and help with Andrew's medical expenses.

“I cannot say enough how grateful I am,” Spencer said.

While he is working on individual thank-you e-mails to all who offered help, Spencer is using his Facebook page to spread the word about fighting retinoblastoma and to educate visitors on guide dogs.

“As a person with a guide dog,” he said, “I know it's my responsibility to educate people on their use and what an essential tool they can be.”