We live in a home in the suburbs of Illinois. We have lived here in peace for 14 years. My husband is a police officer and I planted this garden to give him a sense of serenity and peace and a respite from the world. The new board of directors at the homeowner's association has decided that our historic dog sculptures violate the rules. However, they cannot tell us which rules they violate and initially would not even let us submit paperwork for permission. We were told that the board has made their final decision before we were even allowed to submit anything. They are guilty of selective enforcement and we believe, harassment. They have not allowed due process and many questions to the board have gone simply unanswered.

I created a formal English garden with my own two hands and we have been blessed to share our joy of gardening with my many online followers. I don't think the board understands the soul of a gardener. Asking me to tear the garden apart is like asking me to remove part of my soul. Every prayer, every worry, every joy is planted in this garden alongside the trees and the shrubs and the flowers and even these beautiful dog sculptures , which give me so much peace❤️ They also serve as a memorial to my beloved sister, who passed away at such a young age two years ago, during the covid lockdowns and we couldn't have a service for her. She was my protector. If she was still here, she probably would have figured out a way to overcome this already.

None of our other neighbors have been fined or told to remove anything from their yards at all. We believe this is personal because the president of the board, as well as the treasurer don't like us, for some reason. We try to be kind and conscientious neighbors. We have made many friends here.

Our neighbors have offered to sign a petition to allow us to keep these historic sculptures which once graced the home of John Lendrum Mitchell, a Democratic senator from Wisconsin and Civil War officer. His son, Billy Mitchell, was an officer in World War I and is widely known as the father of the United States Air Force. The statues were carved of marble in Italy in 1872 and are listed with the Smithsonian.

The dogs were purchased as a A Mother's Day gift. There is a male and a female. The female is holding a pup.

We are not wealthy people. Sadly, the mansion where these dogs once stood fell to ruin and we were able to purchase them. We are in animal rescue. These sculptures are a reminder to all of the loyalty of a man to his dogs. They were carved to resemble the owner's beloved Hungarian Viszlas. And, as we know, the unconditiinal love of a pet is worth more than anything money can buy. 

Signing this petition will not influence the board but it will show them how wrong they are, especially when they allow every single home in the neighborhood to have statues and flags and signs and bird baths and bird feeders. We don't wish to take that away from our neighbors. We just want to live in peace with our dogs.