ALLENDALE, Mich. (WZZM) -- Grand Valley State University will pay $40,000 to settle a dispute over a guinea pig.
The Fair Housing Center took the university to federal court on the behalf of Kendra Velzen, after the university told her she could not keep a guinea pig in her on-campus apartment.
GVSU said it was a prohibited pet but Velzen said her doctor prescribed the guinea pig as a companion animal to help her deal with chronic depression.
As part of the settlement, GVSU has agreed to grant future requests by Velzen to live with a guinea pig or similar companion animal.