Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: need feedback re community pet policies

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

> On Jul 28, 2024, at 10:23 PM, lisa pletka <lisampletka [at] gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Our long-standing policy permits only 4 dogs and 8 cats on a
> campus housing 35-40 people.) I am serving on an ad hoc committee to
> re-evaluate our pet policy.

First advice, it took us years to finalize a pet policy because our range of 
tolerance was from one person who thought if we had any rules for dogs we 
should have equal rules for children to people who were afraid of dogs because 
of past experiences with bites and attacks and allergic to cats. We finally 
broke the log jam by talking to the city animal control office. 

We discovered that a condo is not considered private property like a house with 
a yard. Dogs are required to be on a leash or under voice control at all times. 
If we allowed dogs to run loose the Association would be liable for any damage 
from biting, scratching, wrestling, etc., not only the owner. No one wanted to 
be held responsible for anyone else's dog so that settled that. 

Cats we settled by grandfathering in the current outdoor cats and future cats 
could only be indoor cats. And we referred people to a service that trains 
outdoor cats to be indoor cats. Outdoor cats live much shorter lives than 
indoor cats plus killing birds so it was for the cat’s sake too that people 
wanted them indoors. We did have problems with cats digging up people’s gardens 
and pooping in the sand piles and tot lot, but the owners were very helpful in 
helping us install cat barriers, etc.

There are also defined places where dogs can be walked and poop has to be 
cleaned up. We are a city community so land is limited and children play in the 
same areas. Only minimal problems with poop pickup.

We have no number limits. I pasted in the relevant portions of the pet policy 
below.
 
Sharon
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Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org

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Takoma Village Cohousing Pet Policy
Consensed September 19, 2010

Purpose: To create a community environment where people, pets, and nature can 
live in harmony.  Goal: To balance the desires and concerns of pets, pet 
owners, and other residents.

Community Values

As a community we respect the love residents feel for pets, their desire to be 
around pets, and their wishes for pets to be happy, healthy, and safe.  We also 
respect the concerns of residents about pet behavior and noise; sanitation, 
safety, and allergies; and damage to landscaping, personal property, and birds 
and other wildlife.  Note on Language: To simplify language, this policy uses 
“owner” to refer to anyone with a pet or responsible for a pet at a given time. 
 While this policy refers to “residents,” it applies to both residents and 
guests.  “Common property” in this policy encompasses all outdoor areas, 
including backyards, corridors, and stairways. Service animals are allowed in 
the Common House and guest rooms, but their owners should follow the other 
provisions on pets.

Common House

Pets are not permitted in the common house, including the guest rooms. Owners 
who are with pets should use the outside stairs to get to and from units on the 
corridors and units that open into the common house.  Owners with pets who must 
use the elevator due to personal or pet disabilities should use the nearest 
exit.

Indoor Pets

Pets kept indoors in private units are welcome provided their behavior does not 
disturb others. 

Outdoor Dogs

Out of consideration for the safety and health of all residents and other pets, 
and consistent with D.C. law, dogs on TVC common property should be on leashes 
or under the immediate control of a person close to them and capable of 
physically restraining them.  As much as possible, dogs should be taken off 
common property, especially the green, to urinate or defecate.  Owners who need 
an accommodation should check with the Gardening Pod about appropriate on-site 
places for this purpose.  Owners must clean up after their dogs.

 Outdoor Cats

Since even a domesticated cat is potentially a predator of birds and other 
small animals, and allergies to cats can affect people in outdoor as well as 
indoor areas, outdoor cats, with the exception of those in the community on 
adoption of this policy, will not be allowed on TVC common property. Owners may 
allow any cats to go outdoors on a leash, and must clean up after them. 
Residents should not feed outdoor cats from the neighborhood except briefly to 
trap them.

Resolution of Problems and the Pet Pod

The Community Team will form a Pet Pod composed of residents interested in 
living in harmony with pets in cohousing. The pod will mediate when residents 
have not been able to resolve an issue related to pets, and will organize 
training as needed for residents, both adults and children, about how to care 
for and interact with pets safely.

Residents who feel that a pet's behavior is problematic should discuss the 
issue with the owner and attempt to reach a solution. Pet owners must be 
responsive to complaints about the behavior of their pets and attempt to 
resolve them. If a resolution cannot be reached, either party may ask the Pet 
Pod for help.   Residents may not have pets at TVC who have an aggressive 
history. If a pet bites a human or another animal, or shows a pattern of 
aggressive or threatening behavior, the matter should be referred to the Pet 
Pod.  The pod will seek solutions such as training for the pet or owner, and in 
extreme or persistent cases will contact D.C. Animal Control or ask that the 
pet be removed from the community.