Who Is Helene? The Cat Who Won A Court Case
The True Story of Helene, The Cat
Helene was a Maine Coon cat who lived in a New York City apartment with her owner, Marie Vassiliades, for the first six years of her life. In 2006, Helene began to suffer from a skin condition that her veterinarian could not diagnose. Marie took Helene to several different veterinarians, but they were all unable to help her. After six months of suffering, Marie took Helene to the Animal Medical Center in New York City, where she was finally diagnosed with a rare skin condition called "feline eosinophilic granuloma complex." The condition is caused by an allergic reaction to something in the environment, and it can cause severe itching, hair loss, and skin lesions. There is no cure for the condition, but it can be managed with medication.
Marie was determined to find a way to help Helene, so she began to research the condition. She learned that there was a new study being conducted by the University of California, Davis, that was using a new drug to treat the condition. The drug was called "tocladectin," and it had been shown to be effective in treating the condition in cats. Marie contacted the researchers at the University of California, Davis, and they agreed to let her enroll Helene in the study. Helene was given the drug for six months, and her condition improved dramatically. The itching and hair loss stopped, and the skin lesions began to heal. Helene was finally able to live a normal life again.The Legal Battle
In 2008, Marie's landlord filed an eviction lawsuit against her, claiming that Helene was a nuisance. The landlord said that Helene's scratching had damaged the apartment, and that her shedding was causing allergies to other tenants. Marie fought the eviction, and the case went to court. The judge in the case ruled in favor of Marie, finding that Helene was not a nuisance and that the landlord did not have the right to evict Marie.
The case of Helene the cat set an important precedent for pet owners in New York City. The case showed that landlords cannot evict tenants simply because they have pets, and that pets are considered part of the family. The case also helped to raise awareness of feline eosinophilic granuloma complex, a rare but debilitating condition that can affect cats.
