How many Service Animals are allowed

The main issue appears to be the barking - service animal or not, I would think excessive barking could be considered a nuisance. If there's some sort of noise ordinance in your community, you may be able to tackle the problem that way. You will need to provide dates and times when the racket occured (recordings that are time and date stamped are always good).

As for the jumping, you didn't say if the dogs have knocked someone over or bit them - if someone's been injured, he or she can sue the homeowner (it's amazing how people straighten up and fly right when their wallet's about to recieve a beatdown).

Because of privacy laws, you probably won't be able to get any information on what the resident's "disability" is, but service dogs usually come from an organization that trains them and when they're out in public, they should be wearing some sort of vest indicating they are service dogs. In fact, they have to wear that vest in order to go in public places like restaurants or the owner has to have some sort of documentation showing what it is. And having once worked with a lady who trained service dogs, I know for a fact they usually don't jump up and down and act like what you've described.

You may want to talk to your local Humane society or animal control to see which organizations in your area provide service animals. They can tell you what the requirements are and perhaps they could provide some information on how to deal with this. For example if these dogs are "registered" with anyone, the organization that provided them should have some records.

You may need to have the attorney have another round at these people - perhaps threatening them with a lawsuit to remove the dogs if they don't get them trained or provide written verifiable documentation of their status as service animals. Good luck!

The bylaws allow 1 pet under 30 lbs. and guests, tenants, and visitors of a Co-Owner shall not be permitted to bring any pets onto the Condominium property.

He had one small dog, that he had "certified" so he could travel with it.

Last fall he got a roomate that brought in a small dog, he claimed Dog #1 "service animal" status, the roomate as family, not a tennant and her dog #2 a pet.

Before Christmas the roomate, brought in her pit bull that she had been housing off property. This is the 3rd dog and way over 30lbs. Now all are "service Animals" that have been certified within the past few days.

What is funny, a couple years ago he wanted to ban all pets. That was before dog #1.

If I were you, I'd wait for the next time the dog tries to jump up on you, bend at the knees (so as not to fall too far) and roll down to your back. Then lay there moaning about back pain. Get your phone and call someone (spouse, friend, neighbor) to come and help you up. Tell the neighbor you want to know his insurance carrier so you know where to send the bills. Next stop, doctor's office or better yet, a chiropractor (check insurance first) where you complain of nondescript back pain. Oh, don't forget X-rays. If this neighbor can play the phony "service dog" scam, you can play the "sore back" scam.

If the dog snaps at you or makes any contact with his mouth, scream and grab hold of the offended extremity and immediately walk (or limp) home. Once there, put a bandage on the hand or leg and call the animal control officer. By the time they come out to investigate you can claim the the wound has stopped bleeding and you have it bandaged.

OK, I admit it. This is all pretty childish but sometimes you have to fight fire with fire.

Service animals are pretty much this side of BS and a term used by many to attempt to defeat association restrictions. The post on 3 of them is truly BS but they accomplished what they wanted to do. They have the association on the run.

Time for the association to grow a "pair".

Alan,

I love that idea. Lots of drama. Newspaper headline: "Service Dogs" Maul Neighbor!

Anita,

If you were to take this owner to court for violating your association's pet rules, the burden would be on you to prove that there is a covenant violation or that the dogs are just a nuisance. That sounds like a slam-dunk.

Should the owner assert that these are service animals, the burden would be on him to prove that he has a medical neccessity for three barking dogs, including a pitbull. That means he will have to provide witnesses (who will be subject to cross-examination) as to both his medical needs and the dog's fitness to provide the services required. No court is going to accept a certificate from a website as proof. To the best of your knowledge, this owner has never consulted with a medical professional licensed in your state about these dogs and it is doubtful that such a person would put his license on the line by appearing as a witness for the owner.

I would not hesitate to take this guy into court and let him on his dog show for the local court.

$250? The site Anita linked to wants only $114 for their "certificate."

We have eight cats. I wonder if I can get a group discount on certificates so we could deduct the costs of keeping them from our taxes. Unfortunately, anyone who has a cat knows that they neither listen nor obey.