Dog Breed Again

Started by GinaM3 • 10 replies • 1759 views

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GinaM3 (Georgia)
Posts: 1

Posted:

I'm a 1st time townhouse buyer in GA. Thrilled that the HOA allows privacy fences and has no dog breed restrictions. (yup I've got a pit bull mix)....Should I worry about "what-if's" in HOA changes? So many associations are restricting certain breeds. What if this association were to change the rules in a year? Would I be grandfathered in or forced to lose my dog or head to court? (Obviously I love my pet and have been very careful to find an area without "prejudice." ) Glad to have found this forum. Thanks!

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,062

Posted:

What if's are simply that - What if.

Not worth worrying about.

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

tim's right--but the cases I've seen grandfather in existing pets when they make such a change.

GenoS (Florida)
Posts: 4,276

Posted:

Anything is possible. Special assessments have been known to break the bank for some owners leaving them with no choice but to sell and move. Changing your CCRs to ban your breed of dog could happen and you would not be guaranteed being grandfathered in.

NpS (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 4,216

Posted:

IMO, the big "what if" is whether your dog is involved in an "incident."

If not, you have a strong argument that you should be grandfathered. When you bought your house, you relied on the dog rules that were in place at the time.

Sikubali jukumu. Read all posts at your own risk.

SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964

Posted:

In most cases, the problem isn't so much the dog as the owners, so being a responsible pet owner is key. People already have preconceived notions about pit bulls because of all the bite incidents you've seen in the papers and on TV news, but there are also a lot of pit bull owners (nor to mention Rottweilers, German Shepherds, golden retrievers, etc.) who behave responsibly, so being a responsible pet owner is key.

So you already know the basics - keep your dog leashed when outside, clean up after it, make sure it has all the necessary shots (for its protection as well as you and everyone else and make sure it's well behaved around people (go to an obedience class if necessary - some may be at little or no cost at your local Humane Society). If there are issues, better for you to be able to say your dog isn't the problem, but that yappy terrier....Good luck!

If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Marcus Aurelius

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

The real cost is with your home insurance. Some insurance companies charge more for owning aggressive breeds like Dobermans, Rotty's, and Pit's. The city or county you live in could change their rules.

Keep in mind, dog/pet issues are typically NOT HOA issues but Animal control. If your an owner, you have the right to vote yes or no on any proposed changes. Most of the time HOA's are so apathetic no one will do anything until someone gets hurt.

Former HOA President

SteveM9 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 3,699

Posted:

Yep. The issue is with the townhouse hoa insurance.

Its possible the first time the insurance company hears there is a pit bull, they will simply drop the insurance. This will cause the townhouse hoa to seek another insurance company and because they all share info, they will know about the pit bull and jack the rates up 5 times (or more) higher.

You have a dog breed which is responsible for VERY EXPENSIVE insurance payouts. Therefore few insurance companies want to insure property with one.

If I were on the HOA board, I would simply try to pass the cost on to the specific homeowner who chooses to keep the dog. So if insurance costs go up $4000 per year with a pitbull in the HOA, I would try and pass a mandate that owners who wish to own a pitbull pay a pet fee of $4,000 per year.

MarkM31 (Washington)
Posts: 556

Posted:

Any basis for that $4000/year, or did you pull that out of the air?

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,062

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By SteveM9 on 06/19/2015 6:30 PM

Yep. The issue is with the townhouse hoa insurance.

I think that this would depend if the town home community was a condominium development or an HOA development.

I live in a town home community that is an HOA. Having filled out paperwork for insurance multiple times, I have never been asked for a copy of the governing documents or if we ban/allow specific dog breeds.

Condominium insurance may be different. Having never lived in one, I do not know.

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

We are a multiple-story condo building where residents often are in elevators with dogs, which are not restricted by size or breed. For the 8+ years I've been on the Board, we've had no mention of or issues with our condo insurance.

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