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AnitaC1 (South Carolina)
Posts: 18
Posted:
Sorry to bring up something that is touched upon so often. Our little community is being overrun with animals. Our by-laws state:

[Co-Owner is granted a conditional license to maintain one (1) pet by the Association. The only pets to be permitted on the Condominium property shall be dogs under thirty (30) pounds when fully grown, cats or fish.

Pets must be carried in arms or on a leash when taken in and out of the building. Pets shall not be permitted in the public rooms under any circumstances. Pets must not be curbed near the buildings, walkways, shrubbery, pool area, gardens, planting areas, open areas, or other public space, and pets must be walked off the Condominium property.

Guests, tenants, and visitors of a Co-Owner shall not be permitted to bring any pets onto the Condominium property.

The Board of Directors may, upon their sole determination, revoke or terminate the above conditional license if a pet is either vicious or is annoying other Co-Owners or occupants or is otherwise a nuisance.]

We have been having problems with the partner of a co-owner since I moved in last spring. He refused to put his dog on leash and walked his dog on property. His dog chose outside my front door to do business. At one point I had 10 piles. He has since started walking his dog off property. Now he has a roommate with 2 dogs, one is a pit bull (for size reference, not 30 lbs, this dog makes you think it will come through the screen when left alone on the patio) For Christmas they had a visitor with a Great Dane visit. They posted a picture on social media of all 4 dogs by the tree. (Enough venting!)

When I accepted the VP position of our little 6 unit complex, little did I know what I was getting in to. Admittedly our HOA had been lax; they did not grant any conditional licenses. Earlier this fall, I proposed granting all pets currently living on property conditional licenses, but since then, this roommate has brought in the pit bull, almost as a thumb to the rules. (yes! they ARE that catty) The roommate was not invited to the meeting about her dog peeing on the sidewalk because “She is too volatile”

Can we fine for pets over the 1 per owner live-in unit? We have renters with pets (and multiple pets). I understand fees can not become a money making venture, but what else can we do. Please walk me through where to start. Talking to a lawyer is not something we want to do. We already have lawyer fees from a lien against 1 unit for non payment of fees. If we can charge, say $35/mo for non service animals (we have defined service and comfort) animals on the first pet in a rental property, and the second and third on owner residents or for any guests or visitors.
PaulT6 (California)
Posts: 409
Posted:
Looks like your rules are fairly specific. If you have a fine schedule I suggest you apply it, if not, creat one and then apply it. All action should be with tht property OWNER.

Paul T
MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836
Posted:
You can also call animal control whenever they walk their dogs outside without a leash. However, that can be a bit tricky because they have to see it before they can stop them. The other poster gave the best advice and that is to establish a fining schedule and then enforce it. Keep in mind your state may NOT allow your HOA to use fines for the basis for liens/foreclosures. However, as long as they don't know it, you may get away with it...That's HOA logic for ya...

Former HOA President
JeanneK3 (Maryland)
Posts: 562
Posted:
Take photos, then send them to animal control with your complaint. Best if you can photograph the dog in the act.
Jeanne
JM10 (California)
Posts: 503
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By AnitaC1 on 12/28/2012 10:24 AM
Sorry to bring up something that is touched upon so often. Our little community is being overrun with animals. Our by-laws state:

[Co-Owner is granted a conditional license to maintain one (1) pet by the Association. The only pets to be permitted on the Condominium property shall be dogs under thirty (30) pounds when fully grown, cats or fish.

Pets must be carried in arms or on a leash when taken in and out of the building. Pets shall not be permitted in the public rooms under any circumstances. Pets must not be curbed near the buildings, walkways, shrubbery, pool area, gardens, planting areas, open areas, or other public space, and pets must be walked off the Condominium property.

Guests, tenants, and visitors of a Co-Owner shall not be permitted to bring any pets onto the Condominium property.

The Board of Directors may, upon their sole determination, revoke or terminate the above conditional license if a pet is either vicious or is annoying other Co-Owners or occupants or is otherwise a nuisance.]

We have been having problems with the partner of a co-owner since I moved in last spring. He refused to put his dog on leash and walked his dog on property. His dog chose outside my front door to do business. At one point I had 10 piles. He has since started walking his dog off property. Now he has a roommate with 2 dogs, one is a pit bull (for size reference, not 30 lbs, this dog makes you think it will come through the screen when left alone on the patio) For Christmas they had a visitor with a Great Dane visit. They posted a picture on social media of all 4 dogs by the tree. (Enough venting!)

When I accepted the VP position of our little 6 unit complex, little did I know what I was getting in to. Admittedly our HOA had been lax; they did not grant any conditional licenses. Earlier this fall, I proposed granting all pets currently living on property conditional licenses, but since then, this roommate has brought in the pit bull, almost as a thumb to the rules. (yes! they ARE that catty) The roommate was not invited to the meeting about her dog peeing on the sidewalk because “She is too volatile”

Can we fine for pets over the 1 per owner live-in unit? We have renters with pets (and multiple pets). I understand fees can not become a money making venture, but what else can we do. Please walk me through where to start. Talking to a lawyer is not something we want to do. We already have lawyer fees from a lien against 1 unit for non payment of fees. If we can charge, say $35/mo for non service animals (we have defined service and comfort) animals on the first pet in a rental property, and the second and third on owner residents or for any guests or visitors.

You have a very small HOA. That means you need to get as many people on your side. We had a similar situation. Our immediate neighbors had rabbits. The CC&R only allowed cats, dogs, birds (in cages) and fish (in aquariums). No more than two pets per unit. The two people living next door to us had six rabbits and then acquired two more rabbits and two cats. They were the supposed Torrance branch of RabbitMatch. They allowed the rabbits to gnaw on the bottom boards of the walls. I could hear them at night.

We asked for enforcement and we did not get support. Instead we got closed out of meetings as the two rabbit hoarders were able to dominate the board. Despite losing all the court cases (three) and a major several thousand dollar payout by the HOA insurance company, they still have the support of the community.

You can't expect such people to be reasonable or willing to obey the law. What made us decide to leave was the board were also in violation of state licensing laws and refused to submit documents required by the state.

Be careful, but I think you're going to have a problem because your HOA has been lax in enforcement.

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