Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Pet Policy - Can you share yours?

[Lynn Nadeau / Maraiah (welcome]

The short version, for RoseWind Cohousing, Port Townsend WA is:
Per unit, no more than two pets who go outdoors any of the time. No  
limit on indoor pets.
Dogs need to be under direct owner control (leash, voice); cats can be  
free.

Ten of our 24 households have a pet or two. We share nine acres and  
there is lots of open space. Total is about 8 dogs, 6 cats.
A public path goes through our project, with many neighbors who walk  
leashed dogs. They almost always "scoop" as they go.
Aside from one member, who is very upset when a cat comes on or near  
her property, this seems to work well for us.
Ten years after writing this policy, we might change it a bit, but it  
has served. [Bracketed comments are not in the actual wording of the  
document.]
--------------------------
 3.3 PET POLICY (Approved 8/12/00)
RoseWind  Members are respectful and mindful of their pets and their  
impacts on others and on wildlife. In this spirit the following Rules  
and Regulations apply.

1. Barnyard-Type Animals: Husbandry of barnyard-type animals such as  
cows, horses, pigs, goats, and llamas is not allowed at RW. Quiet fowl  
and rabbits are allowed.

  2. Cats and dogs: Cats and dogs are limited to a total of two per  
lot.
  Animals that spend all their time at RoseWind indoors are not  
counted. Owners are responsible for damage of property and  personal  
injury caused by their animals as well as scooping and removal of  
droppings both on the commons and lots. RoseWind dogs may use the  
commons off leash under their owners' supervision and control.
 It is recommended that cats be confined to their own lot as a  
contribution to saving the songbird population.
[The last sentence was in deference to those who wanted no cat  
freedom. In practice, no one has confined an outdoor cat to their own  
lot.]
[Nor has anyone expected owners to know where their cat pooped and  
collect it. We have lots of outdoor field and thicket areas. Dog doo  
is so much more obvious: it is usually collected.]

  3. Pets of Guests: Pets owned by contractors and others doing work  
at RW, or people visiting RW Members, must be under supervision, leash  
control, or confined. Those owners must scoop and dispose of their  
pets' droppings. Pets owned by contractors or
  visitors to RW Members are ultimately the responsibility of the  
hosting Member.

  4. General Requirements: Any animal that has bitten or threatened  
people must be leashed or confined. No pets are allowed in the Common  
House.  [Obviously ADA service animals would be an exception.] Pet  
noise and smell should  be minimized.

  5. Disputes Concerning Pets:  The dispute resolution process in  
CC&Rs should be followed  regarding  RoseWind pets.   The Port  
Townsend City code Article III, 8.04.150 should be followed regarding  
neighbor pets.

  6. Exceptions:  A Member may request an exception to the pet policy  
by contacting the Steering Committee. [actually that's not a power of  
Steering. It would need approval of the whole community.]
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