Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Could I ask about dogs in your community?

[Jeff Buscher (jbuscher]

I don't have much advise, but I can offer more questions:

Has anyone actually had any problems created by pets that should be taken
into consideration?  Has anyone started a community without a pet policy in
place and later discovered that they needed one because the new neighbor's
pit bull was chewing on their kids?  If so, I'd like to hear about specific
problems, and their resolution.

Jeff Buscher

----- Original Message -----
From: <LScottr2go [at] aol.com>
To: "Multiple recipients of list" <cohousing-l [at] freedom2.mtn.org>
Sent: Saturday, August 12, 2000 8:46 AM
Subject: Could I ask about dogs in your community?


> Hi all,
>     We are hammering out our pet policy as new move-ins.  Looks like the
> proposal we're considering has kitties being free-roaming, and, after
looking
> at standard condo pet policies, dogs are not.  I wonder:  is this standard
in
> cohousing?  Portland, OR, is "Dog-Town", a very dog-friendly place, and I
> wonder if such restrictive policies will make dog owners unlikely to want
to
> live with us (we still have half our units to sell).  So my question is,
are
> any of your communities setting dog policy on an individual basis - that a
> dog who's offending, scares kids, or owners who don't control their dogs
and
> leave poop around, allow digging, and other such stuff are fined, and
> eventually roaming privileges revoked?  We don't have enough yard space
for
> dogs to be anything but penned up during the day.  I don't have a dog,
> myself, but I'd hate to be deprived of the company of dogs if the policy
is
> more restrictive than it absolutely needs to be.  Thanks for any input,
info,
> or suggestions.
>
> Linda Scott
> Cascadia Commons Cohousing, Portland, OR
>
> P.S.  Here's parts of the policy we're looking at - standard for condos,
but
> I don't know if it's standard in cohousing:
> 3. Dogs shall at all times whenever they are outside a unit either be
> confined on a leash held by a responsible person or be securely
> contained by a fence (where allowed) on the owner's limited common
> element.
>
> 4. All pets shall comply with all local laws including requirements for
> registration, inoculation, noise control, use of a leash, etc.
>
> 5. All damage created by a pet is the sole responsibility of the pet
> owner (or the property owner if the pet owner is a renter). Damage to
> general or limited common elements will be repaired by the association
> and reasonable repair costs billed to the property owner. Any damage
> caused by cleaning chemicals or other such materials used by the pet
> owner in the attempt to remedy such damage shall also be the full
> responsibility of each pet owner (or unit owner, as specified above),
> who shall pay the full cost of restitution or removal or replacement of
> such damaged items.
>
> 5. Pet owners shall clean up after pets immediately and without
> exception, including removal and disposal of excrement.
>
> 6. No animals shall be allowed in interior common spaces except those
> assisting the physically challenged.
>
> 7. Pets may not create a threat, health hazard, or undue noise, or
> engage in offensive behavior or create other offensive conditions.
>
> Complaint Procedure. If a pet is being offensive or any of the above
> rules are broken, the offended party should first talk with the pet
> owner and request correction. If the offense continues, written details
> should be submitted to the Board. The Board or its representative(s)
> will discuss the problem with the pet owner and seek to reach agreement
> on remedies. Further offenses or failure to reach an agreement may
> result in the board's establishing consequences such as levying fines or
> seeking removal of the pet.
>
> Fine Provision. Pet owners (or the unit owner if the pet owner is a
> renter) are subject to a fine of $10.00 per occurrence for violations of
> this policy.
>
> Pet Removal Provision. Repeated violations of this policy may result in
> permanent removal of the pet from the property. In such case, the pet
> owner (or the property owner if the pet owner is a renter) will be given
> 30 days' notice to remove the pet from the property. If the pet is not
> removed by the deadline, a fine of $10.00 per day will be chargeable to
> the property owner and subject to normal collection procedures
> established by the association.
>
> Right of Appeal. Appeals must be received in writing by the Board of
> Directors before the notice deadline. If the pet in question belongs to
> a renter, the appeal must be made by the property owner. Once an appeal
> is received, the Board will schedule a meeting as soon as possible and
> no later than 14 days to review the matter wit the pet owner and/or
> property owner. No further fining will take place pending the outcome of
> the appeal. The Board's decision on the appeal is final. If the appeal
> is rejected, fines and other provisions become effective three days
> following written notification to the property owner.
>
> Collection Provision. All fines, costs, and expenses necessary to
> enforce this resolution will be levied against the property owner and
> shall be an assessment against the owner's property and subject to all
> lien and collection powers of the Association.
>
>
>