HOA meets about Missouri City neighbors’ lawsuit against NFL star after brutal dog attack (TX)

Neighbors say their Fort Bend County homeowners association is refusing to enforce its rules when dealing with the property an NFL football player.  Missouri City resident Jerry Flowers is suing The Manors Property Owners Association, Missouri City and Washington Redskins offensive tackle Trent Williams after he claims some of the football player’s 11 pit bulls […]

Dog Parks: Best Practices for Limiting an HOA’s Liability Exposure

One of the many benefits of living in a homeowners association (“HOA”) is the amenities provided to its residents. Common amenities include recreational rooms, pools, and fitness facilities. One amenity gaining in popularity is designated for the community’s canine companions: dog parks. Dog parks provide dogs with a designated off-leash area where they can run, […]

Pet Problems In Your HOA

Homeowner associations (HOAs) offer many benefits to their members. Communal amenities, increased safety, and a strong sense of community are some of the most significant. However, when individuals choose to live in an association community, they agree to follow set guidelines. One area that many associations struggle with is managing pet problems and complaints among […]

Condo applicants dogged by pet interview requests (NY)

As competition heats up among home buyers in an increasingly tight market, some condominium and co-op boards are demanding that pet owners subject their furry friends to an ‘interview’ to make sure they’re a good fit.    Read the article……………………

HOA Myths and Misconceptions Series: Pets

A common HOA myth is that residents can have any many pets as they want and aren’t responsible for picking up after them. The truth is an association’s governing documents determine the number of pets residents can have, and residents are absolutely responsible for picking up their pet’s waste.    Read the article…………………………..

Disengagement & Pet Topics: Handling Two Common Issues With Board Members

People all come with their own set of biases, opinions, and circumstances. So while each HOA board might have a slightly different list of common issues, these can often boil down to a handful of basic human tendencies. We’ll address two of them in this article.   Read the article………………………

Reversal: Small claims courts cannot order mediation, ADR (IN)

Parties cannot be ordered to participate in alternative dispute resolution in small claims proceedings, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Thursday, reinstating a dog-bite case that a judge had dismissed after litigants refused to participate in court-ordered mediation.   Read the article………………………..

Condo Pet Ban – Emotions Run High Among Residents (ON)

Emotions are running high at two CityPlace buildings after the condominium corporation started enforcing a rule that prohibits any pets that were not registered with the corporation by a specified date. The effect of this rule means that any new pets, as well as any pets not registered by the cut-off date, are prohibited.   Read […]

Why Behavior-based Rules are a Community Association Manager’s Best Friend

From Old Yeller to Lassie, Americans have a long history of loving their pets. According to The Harris Poll, 62% of households have at least one pet and 95% of pet owners consider pets part of their family.  Responsible pet owners make responsible residents. Many community associations have rules related to pets, including restrictions based […]

Effective Rules for Managing Stray and Feral Cats in Communities

We are a nation of animal lovers. Nearly seven in 10 Americans own a pet, according to the American Pet Products Association, and 16% of pet owners feed stray and feral cats. To clarify, feral cats typically have little to no human interaction and are born from other feral or stray cats. Stray cats, on […]

Woman moves out of her condo instead of giving up her dog (GA)

Petty, cruel, and obnoxious.  That’s the description a resident gave of a condo policy forcing a woman to give up one of her dogs because she’s over the building’s pet limit.  She sent her story to K9Kait, our digital hub for all dog news, and Kaitlyn Ross looked in to why she said she would […]

Pet Rules: What can your HOA really do? (CA)

Our HOA recently voted to update our CC&Rs. One section prohibits ownership of numerous breeds of dogs the board considers dangerous. Since California law (Food and Agri. Code 31683) outlaws dog breed discrimination by counties and cities, we are the only HOA in the region that bans ownership of certain dogs. Isn’t it illegal under […]

HOA Homefront – Can associations limit dogs? One ‘pet’ is allowed (CA)

Q:Our homeowners association recently voted to update our CC&R’s. One section prohibits ownership of numerous breeds of dogs that the board considers dangerous. Since California law (Food and Agriculture Code 31683) outlaws dog-breed discrimination by counties and cities we are the only HOA in the region that bans ownership of certain dogs. Isn’t it illegal […]

HOA Homefront: Can we limit dogs in our community? (CA)

Q: Our HOA recently voted to update our CC&Rs. One section prohibits ownership of numerous breeds of dogs the board considers dangerous. Since California law (Food and Agri. Code 31683) outlaws dog breed discrimination by counties and cities, we are the only HOA in the region that bans ownership of certain dogs. Isn’t it illegal […]

When man’s best friend isn’t the neighbor’s (MA)

In the old days, when people in condos or apartment buildings gossiped about the neighbors, the targets were typically fellow human beings.  But now? Let’s let Gayle Saks, a resident in a dog-friendly apartment community in Melrose, take it from here.   “There was a yappy Boston terrier upstairs and that dog was a jerk,” she […]

HOA residents need to be responsible dog owners (NV)

Q: I recently found your column in the Sunday paper and wanted to ask a question. My homeowners association states in the community rules that there are to be no pets over 25 pounds, as there is a two-dog limit rule, with having both dogs at a 45-pound limit for two pets.  I was walking […]

Toronto condo owners asked for their dog’s DNA to solve poop problem (ON)

Andy Bazoian never imagined his job would include dealing with dog poop. As a property manager for a downtown Toronto condominium building, Mr. Bazoian has witnessed his fair share of anonymous, abandoned piles – in the stairwells, the mail room, the parking garage and on the grass, all left behind for everyone and anyone to […]

Kass: Insurance and Animal Bites

Question: My condominium association is overrun with dogs. We are concerned that someone will be injured, and we will be sued because we did not impose the proper precautions. What should we do?   Read the Q&A…………………..

Centennial woman says dog sickened by rat poison, seeks reimbursement of costs (CO)

When Patty Capson’s Shepherd mix, Titus, became lethargic just before Christmas, she thought he was a little depressed.  “He got worse,” she said. “He began vomiting and was just getting sick.”  Capson told Contact7 that’s when she remembered picking up a note that had been stuck on her front door.  “It said a rat station […]

Makes sense HOA should follow dog breed laws (NV)

Q: I know of Nevada Revised Statute 202.500. In short: 6. A local authority shall not adopt or enforce an ordinance or regulation that deems a dog dangerous or vicious based solely on the breed of the dog. 7. This section does not apply to a dog used by a law enforcement officer in the […]

Ban on Pets in the Laundry Room Could Boomerang (NY)

A co-op board has updated its pet policy, specifying approved entrances and exits and forbidding pets from lingering in common areas, including lobbies and laundry rooms. The rule applies to service dogs and emotional support animals, and it carries a $225 fine for every violation. Can a co-op board do this?    Read the article…………………..

Building Pet Policies: Some Best Practices

To the joy of some condo owners and the frustration of others, most buildings have some type of pet policy in place. These policies are really for the protection of the other residents — sooner or later, someone will come along with enough animals to really test the patience of his or her neighbors.    Read […]

Mueller resident starts petition to lift pit bull breed restriction (TX)

….Gu wanted to adopt a pit bull mix dog.  “We found one dog that was very tolerant of our cats,” she said. “And got along really well with my mom and dad.”  Gu said she couldn’t adopt the dog even though she explained to the Mueller Property Owners Association that the dog didn’t have behavioral […]

Check HOA Rules When Looking to Buy a Pet-Friendly Condo

If you’re an animal lover choosing a house, be attentive to what rules might restrict what pets you can have, where they can go within the community, and how they (and thus you) are expected to behave.     Read the article………………

HOA Homefront: Boards must follow city limitations on number of dogs allowed

Q:  Our CC&R’s (Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions) limit the number of pets a homeowner can have to a “reasonable” number. City law states a resident outside of a homeowners association can have up to four dogs. Our association manager insists we have to abide by city law. Is that right?      Read the Q&A……………

HOA may be liable for pit bull attack (FL)

QUESTION: I was hoping you could help answer questions about a recent event that took place in our HOA community. My mom was walking her small dog outside. Within 30 feet of her home she passed her neighbors home and their pit bull raced out of the home and attacked my mother and her dog. […]

Pet pig could get the boot from neighborhood (NC)

It’s a potbellied pig predicament in Carolina Shores.  One family may not be able to keep their swine after someone from the Property Owner’s Association complained.  Porkchop is a pot belly pig loved by his owner, Linda Dolan. But for her, he’s not just a pet.   Read the article……………….

Why Scoop the Poop?

Americans adore their pets. More than 43 million dogs and 36 million cats live in U.S. households—and many of them belong to the 68 million Americans who live in homeowners associations, condominiums, cooperatives, and common-interest communities. Besides being a nuisance, uncollected pet waste is a serious problem. Remember these facts:    Read the article………………..

Dogs creating costly problems for Denver neighborhood (CO)

It’s no secret that people in Denver are proud of the city’s landscape. They’re also proud of their dogs.  The problem is one creates unintended consequences for the other and a downtown neighborhood is trying to fix that.  Don Cohen is the president of Riverfront Park Association, the master homeowner’s association for all of the […]

What is a ‘small dog’ anyway? Little guy wins big strata battle (BC)

Call it a victory for the little guy — no matter how big he is.  A North Vancouver condo owner has won the right to keep his golden retriever after successfully arguing a strata bylaw outlawing the ownership of anything but a “small dog” was too vague.   The canine conflict — argued before B.C.’s Civil […]

McConnell’s Trace residents plan emergency meeting over large dog ban (KY)

Some residents in a Lexington neighborhood are planning an emergency meeting after the homeowner association announced it would ban larger dog breeds in the neighborhood.  People living in the McConnell’s Trace neighborhood are exploring the legality of the new pet policy.  “We did not have a breed restriction in our deed,” resident Joshua Jordan said.  […]

New dog restrictions create frustrations in Lexington neighborhood (KY)

Homeowners in the McConnell’s Trace Development say they are upset because of a new pet policy banning nearly 12 dog breeds.  The announcement was made in a letter sent to all residents. In the letter, the association outlines the group of dogs that will be prohibited. On the list are; German Shepherds, Huskies, Great Danes, […]

A Toronto condo wants to charge dog owners $15 a month, but is that legit? (ON)

A new rule forcing condo residents to pay a monthly fee for each dog they own to offset cleaning costs has some people crying foul.  “It’s just unconscionable,” said Gina Giorgetti, a dog walker whose clients live in the building. “Are we going to make them pay for children as well?”    Read the article…………….

Can Dogs Run Free at Condos? Northville Considers Ordinance Change (MI)

Should dog owners at condos have to keep their pooches on a leash? This is the question prompting an ordinance change in the City of Northville.  According to a memo to City Council from Police Chief Michael Carlson:  “During the November 7, 2016 council meeting, a City resident from North Lexington Condominium Association asked council […]

Dogs are People Too?

For those of you who know me, or have read my blogs over the years, you know that I love dogs. Labrador retrievers and beagles are my breeds of choice. But the truth is, I love darn near every dog – large, medium or small! When Larry and I moved to Colorado 11 years ago, […]

Humber Bay condo residents ordered to carry dogs through common areas (ON)

Dog-owning residents at an Etobicoke condo say they are tired of being told by property management that they have to carry their canines through common areas.  The resident handbook at Key West condos at Humber Bay Shores tells tenants that pets “must be small enough, in weight and size, to be carried easily throughout all […]

When Your Neighbor Hates Your Dog(s) (NY)

Yesterday we alerted you to a new wrinkle on the way New Yorkers live now. In essence, as the price of apartments in a neighborhood goes up, the size of that neighborhood’s dogs goes down. Translation: if you see a lot of Shih Tzus on the street, you’re probably in Tribeca or Greenwich Village. If […]

Animals: May a Community Ban or Restrict Them?

An Association may ban or restrict animals, if the restriction is: A)   reasonable; B)   enforced uniformly; and C)   included in the governing documents. However, there are some exceptions:      Read the article…………….

Doc’s dogs bark, bark, bark their master into court (WY)

“It’s so simple. That’s the pathetic part of it,” Becker said. “All he has to do is train his dogs.”  But Becker, who’s the president of his neighborhood homeowners association, isn’t confident that a trial will result in a solution.  “You’d think it would be embarrassing enough for him to do something,” Becker said. “You […]