Cohousing-L Mailing List: RE: pet policy (was: Gun policy ...)

[Rob Sandelin (robsan]

RE: Baranski's [at] VEAMF1.NL.NUWC.NAVY.MIL questions:


  We wanted to preserve and protect the local native wildlife
  No one should have to be impacted by another members pet
  Members have the right to have pets
  Members should be responsible for their pets

>Are these in order of importance?
No they are all equal in importance.

>Can you give a quick summary of the high points? (pets impact on wildlife)
Very quick and out of my head:  Cats are major predators on birds and 
small mammals. Tend to catch certain things and impact local 
populations heavily, even to local extinction (For example, tree frogs 
and red-backed voles)
Male dogs scent mark territory and many predatory animals such as 
weasels will not venture into areas scent marked by dogs.  Dogs are 
also predatory although not anywhere as successfully as cats.  All this 
has been well documented by a dozen or so research projects from all 
around America and Great Britain.

>1.  Dogs are to be kept on the owners unit (lot) and are allowed on the  road
>  when accompanied by the owner.

>This seems pretty restrictive to me...  Won't this require fences around the
>individual lots, which will detract a *lot* from the co-housing landscape?

Fences are not allowed. So far we only have two dogs. Both are trained 
to stay, heel and come.

> 2.  Dogs are not allowed on the trails or in the campground.

>Does this mean even when with the owner?  On
>a leash?

Yes. For reasons given about scent marking above.

 > 3.  Cats are to be belled and all new cats ( after Nov. 1991) are to 
be  kept
 > indoors at all times.

> As far as keeping allcats in doors, again it seems like a restriction 
that I don't quite >see the exact sense in.  Yah, it will cut down on 
some of the problems, but will it cut
>down on the exact problem that is of concern, without being an unnecessary
>imposition?

Yes.  Cats actually live several times longer when they are indoor 
cats. Especially in our area which is full of coyotes who love to eat cats.



>You have to keep in mind that, just as there are people who do/don't fit into
>co-housing, there will be different types, and different individual animals
>that may or may not fit into a given co-housing community.  I'm much more in
>favor of working out any individual problems that come up, as opposed to
>coming down with 'thou shalt not...'s beforehand.

Without being unduly cruel, I suspect you have little or no community 
experience. It is always a lot easier to make a decision like this 
early, than after you have 15 dogs and 20 cats. Always. The value, is 
when the decision is made, it filters people.  Communities are not all 
inclusive, there are specific values, codes of conduct, and 
expectations which are often well documented in bylaws and other 
agreements.  When you join an existing community you agree to abide by 
those things.  You also need to be sure you have a complete 
understanding of those things before you join a community or else you 
may have a lot of problems. A great deal of the formation of a 
community is the formation of its values.  For more detail about this I 
would refer to the book "Builders of the Dawn".

>  4.  All cats and dogs are to be spayed /neutered.

>Of course...   Ah, what about people who have breeders?  Does this mean that
>they should not be considered?

We didn't think of that. Never been an issue. Might be someday, if so 
we will talk about it.