 | | A Florida couple is facing eviction after refusing to walk their beloved dog Cole on a leash in their neighborhood. | |
 | | Bob refuses to walk Cole, who is well-behaved, on a leash. He has been at war with neighbors for years, since he was first fined for the infraction. | |
 | | Bob Wirth says many of his neighbors walk their dogs without a leash, and that he is being unfairly targeted. | |
 | | Bob shows INSIDE EDITION his arsenal of weapons, which he says he will use on homeowners association board members who try to foreclose on his home. | |
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A heated confrontation occurs between neighbors as resident Bob Wirth walks through his neighborhood, videotaping dogs without leashes.
Wirth has been at war with his neighbors ever since he was fined $1,000 for refusing to walk his dog Cole on a leash, a violation of the bylaws of the River Watch Homeowners Association outside Tampa, Florida.
"Why not just put Cole on a leash?" asks INSIDE EDITION's Megan Alexander.
"No one else has to, why should I?" says Bob.
Wirth's legal battle has so far cost him $150,000 with fines, penalties and legal fees. The homeowners association is suing to foreclose on the house he and his wife Sandra have lived in for 10 years.
Megan Alexander asks Bob's wife Sandra if she is scared they'll lose their home.
"I'm afraid and can't sleep," she confides.
With foreclosures happening all across the country for financial reasons, it seems unimaginable that Bob and his wife could lose their house over failing to leash their dog. But this legal battle has now reached the boiling point. And to save his home from foreclosure, Bob says he's prepared to use deadly force.
"I'm going to use deadly force against board members, and I have the guns to do it," says Bob.
The grandfather showed INSIDE EDITION his arsenal of weapons.
"Do they know you have these guns?" asks Megan Alexander.
"No, [they have] not seen 'em. The police know I have them, [but] so far no one from the board has tried to file a restraining order or anything else against me," says Bob.
Megan asks, "Sandra, do you think your husband is serious?"
"I told him not to do it and he's got the guns out there and they're oiled up and cleaned and ready to go; I can't believe it's come to this," says Sandra.
Wirth believes he's being unfairly targeted. After all, he says he's videotaped several other dogs without leashes.
"I'm not going to let it happen, if I have to use those guns out there, I will," Bob tells INSIDE EDITION.
A judge ruled in favor of the homeowners association's right to foreclose. The Wirths have appealed. Local police tell INSIDE EDITION they have been alerted to Wirth's threats and they are working with the homeowners association to address their concerns.
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