A common headache that Board Members deal with on a regular basis is the pet policy. Many pet policies are open to interpretation and too vague. Problems occur with perceieved selective enforcement, inconsistent violation reporting and homeowners pointing fingers at one another.
A few tips on how to write a pet policy that is effective and fair:
Pet rules should be consistent with the association governing documents; they should serve a purpose; and, above all, they should be reasonable. Simply ask yourself, "what purpose does this rule serve and is this reasonable?"
Associations should encourage compliance with pet rules by involving residents in their community, publicizing rules frequently, communicating with nonresident owners, being a resource for residents, and handling neighbor complaints using standard procedures. Constant communiaction is key to success.
Pet rules should be enforced even-handedly and consistently, beginning with informal and friendly methods.
Associations should focus on behavior—the pet's and the owner's—rather than on size or breed when drafting pet rules. Problems and violations come in all shapes and sizes. The issues have less to do with a 65 pound dog and more to do with an unleashed, out of control animal. As was pointed out recently, "My dog is friendly!" can be one of the biggest lies out there. No matter the size or breed of dog, owners need to follow rules about pet/ owner behavior.
1 comment:
There is an unleashed Saint Bernard that lives on Stover CT. He has been extremely aggressive towards my dogs. There has been THREE separate occasions that we have been assaulted, (attacked is a strong word even though this last incident ended in blood shed). I have noticed him unleashed at least ½ dozen times this summer alone! He has even chased me up the steps to my front door. I don’t feel safe any more walking my small dogs. Dog owners should be fined if they continue to ignore the leash laws in Fairfax County.
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