Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Pets

[Cohousing-L listmgr (fholson]

Thomas Alexander  thos [at] compuserve.com 
is the author of the message below but due to a problem it was posted 
by the Fred the list manager: owner-cohousing-L [at] cohousing.org
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Marty Roberts wrote:
>> we have not had a problem with pet policy so far.
[...] Owners of course are expected to do poop patrol,
prevent annoying barking, and generally keep their pets from being
a nuisance.<<
        These are the same expectations of the condo where I live - 
and there are other, more specific rules too.  No dogs over 30 lbs,
dogs must be on a leash at all times, no letting the dog out the front
door (if dog is tied up, it must be in the back) -- still, there
is quite a bit of poop in front of my unit from the neighbor's dog.
        I'm not quite sure how to talk to them about it (once, the
neighbor started screaming at my wife because she asked her not to
let their friends park in our parking spot), but I have I've left them
notes about it.  (Usually, it was early in the morning and I'd just
stepped in it, so I didn't want to wake anyone.)  Fortunately, at least
the stepping in it has stopped (but perhaps it's because the puppy
is old enough to know not to poop on cement.)
        The point of all this is to ask whether it is realistic to
expect cohousing to be any different.  I love dogs and cats and have
had both as pets over the years, presently have a cat, and would like
to have a dog, however, if I am asked to make a pet policy for a
neighborhood which is physically like the one I live in now (where
you cannot put up a fence, for instance, to keep other people's dogs
out) I think I would be for a no-dog policy.  (I can't believe I just
heard myself say that.)

Thos
Thos [at] compuserve.com
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/thos