Pet Committee

My name is Elizabeth and I approached the board members about a pet committee when I learned they wanted to form some committees and a pet committee wasn't one of the committees on their radar. The board members liked the idea of forming a pet committee so I decided to volunteer to be on it and, if need be, take lead.

Does anyone else here live in a community that has a pet committee?

If so, how often do you meet? How do you communicate with other committee members? And, most importantly, how do you connect and communicate with the residents of your community? Do you use social media, like Facebook, to do that? If so, what types of things get communicated to the residents where pets are concerned?

How are your communities pet friendly for all?

We do not have a pet committee.

What goals did you have in mind for the committee when you proposed it?

The Pet Committee would work on managing pet issues within the condo community and strive to keep it pet friendly and safe for all.

In addition, the committee would monitor state, county and local pet issues and statutes so that recommendations could be made to the Board of Directors on matters regarding pets in our condo community.

The pet committee would also allow the many residents of our condo association a better opportunity to get to know their neighbors and appreciate the community better.

The idea came about because many of the rules and regulations governing pets aren't being followed. The top 3 rules of section 14 (pets) that many residents are failing to follow include failure to pick-up waste, tying out pets and leaving them unattended and having dogs that exceed 21" in height. The Board of Directors wants the committee to start re-evaluating some of those rules and regulations and it's not only important for us to have input from residents who already own pets but those residents who don't own any pets.

I did some googling and saw that other associations out there had pet committees and thought it couldn't hurt to form one of our own.


I'm not sure. No one has told me that.

What I do know is that a pet committee is one of several committees in formation. Landscaping and website are some of the other committees they're forming. I suppose additional committees would be added down the road.

I'm with Fred. Your Board should enforce your pet rules or change them.

We're a twin tower urban high rise. We allow either two dogs, two cats, or one of each. We have no size or breed limit on dogs. I'd say 30-40% of our 200+ condos have dogs. We have lots of rules since we're elevators buildings.

Dogs must always be on leash or carried by someone
No dog waste may ever be deposited in our common areas.
Excessive barking: owners get a "courtesy' letter to halt it or a call to hearing soon thereafter if not cured.
dogs/cats may never be locked out of condo units on balconies.
Dogs/cats aren't allowed in any interior common areas or the exterior fenced pool area.

We rarely have violations, but handle them swiftly.

I don't see a reason for a committee unless you want to review the exiting rules.

Your board needs to enforce rules if they're not being followed, that's part of what the board does. Not a crap load of committees to go around and check how people are living, and how tall their pets are.

There's been a recent change to our Board of Directors and we now have new board members as a result.

Part of the change had to do with a lack of enforcing current rules and regulations. The new board is looking to not only enforce existing rules but perhaps change some as well.


That's what the pet committee members are planning on doing.

Actually, we just started.

My personal opinion is the HOA should potentially NOT have pet trash in their CCR’s. WHY ... because your local City, County, and State have laws already on the books regarding pets. Ladies and Gentlemen they virtually ALL will have clauses such as “All Pets Must Be on a Leash”. Therefore, when the HOA has similar statements in their CCR’s the HOA will then “supercede” the local laws. Then when lets say in the future a “dog” bites anyone and especially if that “dog” was not on a leash ... the HOA will be the major entity SUED. WHY ... because you have stated in your CCR’s that “all dogs must be on a leash” and there was a dog who was not on a leash and bit someone.

The alternative is just following the local laws. Then in same scenario ... maybe the HOA is sued. But your response could be ... Your Honor our HOA does not regulate pets because we have the local Animal Control with properly “trained professionals” to handle potential vicious animals. Sorry but our HOA Members are not properly trained in the handling of potential vicious animals and all Citizens are required to follow the LOCAL LAWS. Mr./Mrs. X did their duty by offering first aid to the victim and also provided them with the telephone number for the local Animal Control who has the proper authority and training to handle such situations.

So ... which scenario do you think has the better chance of winning if sued???

If the government does not enforce then the victims and owners can go after their Local Government vs the HOA. YEP my local government tried telling me in the past that I could add verbiage to my HOA regarding these type issues (asked them as a what if scenario). When I pointed out that would be STUPID because THEY had the LAWS on their books and the legal responsibility to UPHOLD their own LAWS ... guess what ... they backed down regarding the scenario!!! If you had a dangerous dog that bit someone ... yes they would respond ... but if said dog was NOT on a leash your HOA will most likely loose a lawsuit. WHY ... because you had a dog NOT on a leash in “complete violation” of your CCR’s ... because your HOA superceded the Local Laws.

The same goes for the Local Government as it does for the HOA with regards to dog poop. You need to have evidence ... essentially a picture of the culprit committing the violation. That could just as easily be turned into the local authorities as it can to the HOA. YEP ... and the HOA will have LESS headaches if turned into the local authorities via their legally binding LAWS. The HOA BOD can tell residents ... we do not regulate animals and expect our residents to follow the Local Laws. If you have an issue here is the phone number for our local animal control.

Keep in mind Local Governments LOVE your type HOA’s who will take on any and all LEGAL LIABILITY above and beyond that provided by your Local Government. When something happens such as a dog biting anyone and not on any leash ... believe me ... your local government will point out to the victim that your HOA regulates dogs and that the dog who bit them was not on a leash in violation of your CCR’s. They will also point out that it is much easier to sue an HOA vs the local government. Then when you come on here in the future and complain about any such event ... what should I tell you?