Cohousing-L Mailing List: animal Policy

[BARANSKI (BARANSKI]

  It seems that some of the pet owners (specifically dog owners) feel  they
  should be able to let their pets run free all of the time, even when they are
  not home (quoting the lack of a "leash law" in the town).  Others who are
  allergic to, have children who are frightened by, or simply don't  like
  having to deal with dogs wherever they go on the site, object  strongly to
  this.  There are many compromises available, but all of  them restrict in
  some way the time and/or location that pets can run free,  which is
  unacceptable to those pet owners.

Tough decision!  I think any decision about something that is going to be
everywhere or nowhere is going to be tough...

I would think that the only solution would be some compromise about where the
dogs were allowed...

But perhaps you can try to address some of the individual issues about the
dogs:

What restrictions on dogs will be helpfull to those with allergies?  I would
assume that it would be helpfull for dogs to not be *inside* common space as a
general rule.  Is it helpfull to restrict the dogs outside movements?  I
wouldn't think so...

What restrictions on dogs will be helpfull to frightened children?  Or is it
parents of frightened children?  I would think it would be good for the
children to get used to well behaved dogs; and for dogs to behave themselves,
and learn who doesn't want to have them around (allergic / scared)

What restrictions will be helpfull to those who just don't want to deal with
dogs?  The only one I can think of, is just plain, no dogs.  I think these
people need to articulate their concerns in more detail.  I don't think it's
fair to impose a few people's ideosyncracies on everything else, especially if
they can't be explained.

In general, I would go with asking myself how would this situation be handled
outside the community.  Is it reasonable for someone allergic to dogs to expect
never to run across them?  I don't think so.  Like wise for children, and
people who just don't want to deal...

Of course it goes without saying that any animals have to be well behaved, if
they are going to be running around loose.  IE Not digging up plants, fighting
each other, bothering people when they are not wanted, etc.  If you run across
one of these problems, you will need to address that particular instance with
that dog.

BTw, I would expect that a co-housing community would tend to have fewer pets
per capita then normal, especially free running pets, as these can be shared
pretty well.  Who needs a dog all to themselves? :-) Otherwise, the population
density of animals may become a bigger problem then the human population
density.  

If every family has a dog, you are *definitely* going to have dog-pack
problems.  If the community just has two or three shared dogs running around,
they are likely to be able to learn their place in the community pretty well. 

Like I said, I think you'll have an easier time sharing 'outside' animals, then
'inside' animals.  On the other hande, 'inside' animals won't impact other
people...

Jim.