PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- The U.S. Attorney's office has filed an action alleging that a St. Helens landlord improperly denied a woman tenant permission to have a companion dog in violation of the federal Fair Housing Act.

The action filed Monday names Ronald A. Lucas and R. A. Lucas Developments, operators of a 15-unit apartment complex.

In late 2007, an elderly tenant submitted two letters from health care providers supporting her request for a small therapy dog, which a doctor said would help her mental disability.

The action says she was told she could have the dog only if she were legally blind.

The civil action says letters from a legal aid attorney on the woman's behalf went unanswered.

The government seeks an injunction and monetary damages.

Meantime, Lucus told KGW he had no idea that a federal lawsuit had been filed on behalf of his tennant, Marilyn Dirks. He currently has about a month to respond and then a federal judge will likely review the case for six months to a year before reaching a decision.

Dirks told KGW she saw a doctor for her depression after her oldest son, Grant was killed in a traffic accident. The doctor prescribed a companion dog to help Dirks pull out of her dark mental state, and she said it worked, the pooch has turned her life around.

"had a tough time getting through the day," she said. "I'd look out the window at semis and say I could step out in front of one."

Dirks got a dog and took it home to her apartment, despite Lucus' protests and she has been protected from getting penalized by her landlord under federal law.

Lucus said he feels sorry for Dirks, but he also believes she is taking advantage of the system to get something she wanted even before her terrible family tragedy.

"Before she rented the place she asked if it would be okay if she had an animal or dog and I told her there was a no-pet policy. We don't allow dogs or cats," he said.

(KGW reporter Mike Benner also contributed to this article.)