HOA Dog off of leash.. friendly doesn't matter..

This has been an issue in the past. One of our residents and board members has a very friendly dog that has been seen NUMEROUS times off the leash within out buidling.

The issue is that this person has been notified over and over again, but alas she is on the board and witnessed accounts and documentation of her dog off the leash has gone NOWHERE. The board was put on notice as was the management if this continued animal control would be notified.

Multiple people are willing to sign a witness attestation stating the above. I really feel this is the last straw here.

Today this friendly dog was seen running around by the pool with the owner behind it ( dog off leash ) calling its name. The other day I heard her asking the cleaning person if she saw the dog as it was "lost".

I dont' have the time nor energy to go against a board that has no desire to fix one of it's own.. is it time for animal control? I can provide photos of this situation. and documentation of sightings including witnesses..

Yes, our city does have authority within the complex as far as having unleashed dogs... it's been researched and confirmed.

Not a good idea to let your precious pet take chances. If the owner was really responsible, assuming there are leash laws, he would follow the rules, like everyone else, and safely walk him where he wishes within reason of course. Not all pet owners are responsible though. In my HOA, the whole BOD's are "the chosen few." Don't know why it is always one person who lets it go to their head. My idea of being a great board member is to DO, what is in the best interest of the whole community, NOT just the boards best interest! It is unfortunate, and sad to see a board member break the rules, just because he is a board member. I say, sorrowfully, for the "friendly lil pooch, warn the owner one last time then, call animal control. Good luck!

I agree with BrianB. Contact animal control as it is NOT an HOA duty to enforce. I would take what he said about the dog dangers and tell a story of the "Endangered dog". Maybe that will give a hint to the owner what they are doing.

I am annoyed by people who let their dogs off leash. I have 2 dogs myself. It scares me to have my leashed dogs meet an unleashed one no matter how "good" they are. Dog's can sense a dog on a leash and natural tendancies can kick in. My one dog won't go 2 feet if his leash/colar falls off by accident. He comes straight back to me to put it on. That is not to say I don't let them out without a leash sometimes. It just in the fenced yard or out in the country in a huge field. Otherwise they are on leashes like the law says. I know the dangers I would put them in otherwise and myself.

Thank you all. I have as a couple of other units in the complex put this person on warning of all things last SUMMER! I found the certified letter I sent to our managment company telling them that since they are not willing to enforce or neither is our board..

We are going to be taking pictures of these incidents and releasing them to Animal Control. My spouse is also disabled, with a cane and doesn't like the idea of a dog running uncontrolled around his feet.

If he fell.. where would that lead us.

Michelle,

You can call the Dog Catcher to handle the situation. I've seen most animal control officers to be upfront w/ pet owners, regardless of HOA board status. There's nothing the board can do over matters of law to circumvent your protection.

Meetings are actually opened.. Open forum.. does anyone have any questions regarding the agenda or comments? We will only listen to items on the agenda..

Thanks Kelly M It wasn't until the weather is conducive that I noticed the dog issue again..In review of the records and emails with a documented list of dates, times, witnesses etc this person was warned over a year ago.

I feel that really myself and the few others involved have tried. It's obvious its on deaf ears. Will let the city take care of this. Pictures are worth a thousand words.. just make sure they include time and date stamps.

I say the next time the dog is loose and they are not around...Take the dog and hide it...Give them a few minutes or an hour or two of panic to realize the danger they put their dog in...Funny if they call animal control they have to admit it was off leash when it was "lost"....

This is bad advice of course, but it may be the only way to get the message through...

if you switch the target of your aim to the owner, i love the pepper spray. I hate to punish the animal, it has no idea what it is doing is wrong or unsafe. the owner does.

Oh my gosh, I totally meant to just keep that dog away, i am SUCH a lousy aim with this thing. I never knew it would go that direction, I must have triggered it wrong. I am SOOOO sorry, Mrs Hildebrand, so sorry.

You guys made me smile. thank you! LOL As bad as it sounds, I carry pepper spray on my keyring. I have NO intention of using it.. unless I HAVE TO!

I agree with Carol. You have several problems with your board.

1. The open forum.
2. Request for resolution: Section 1369.520
3. Enforcement and fines.

I do not know if you HOA has a fine schedule, but most should.

As I mentioned above, many animal control venues have been hit by these economic times. Many require that they actually catch the animal and owner in violation. Calling the city animal control doesn't mean they will respond immediately. If you can find a pattern, then you can tell them and if they have the person-power, they usually try to get there.

In a request for resolution, the board is required by California civil code to respond and meet to discuss.

I also agree with the person who posted that it is also a matter of the safety of the animal.

I know some suggestions were made in jest, but be sure that no one decides to add stolen property or assault to the list of problems. I've even seen animal control taken to court when they caught a dog out and off-leash because the dog wandered back to the property when they caught up with it.

It would be interesting to hear what the other dog owners think as well.

Sometimes just spraying an animal with water is enough to get the owner's attention and to let the animal know it shouldn't be in some areas. The pool, IMHO, is one of those places. Also, I lived in a small community with dogs and cats that ran loose (from one household) and this resulted in a problem for everyone--everyone else had to pick up the poop for the owners. So I'd emphasize dogs AND cats. Midnight cat courtship is a good time to get up and spray animals with water.