dogs/Community Comparison Grid

[Louise Davidson]

Hi ! Chrissy;

I have been receiving the Community News ever since it started. I don't recall ever reading on the subject of dogs. I have been having one heck of a time with the residents in the Community with these dogs. In the beginning we wanted to make this a pet free place but to find out that most customers we had wanted to move in had a dog. Well it's to the point that this year we are allowing one small dog not over 25 lbs and they have to pay $5.00 per month for the period that they are in the Community.
My question to you
is: Have you had any subjects on dogs and if so, how do I get to find out what everyone else is charging and what they might have for rules out there for there dogs, or is it just me?

Please can you send me your Community Camparison Grid also.

Thanks

Louise

[CHARLOTTE B.]

OUR RULES ARE: ONE SMALL DOG ONLY. CAN NOT BE TIED OUTSIDE OR LET TO RUN LOOSE. THE OWNER MUST KEEP DOG ON A LEASH WHILE OUTSIDE. WE ARE A MIXED COMMUNITY. RENTALS AND HOMEOWNERS. THE RENTERS CANNOT HAVE PETS UNLESS THEY ARE KEPT CONTAINED. (FISH OR BIRD). WE DON'T CHARGE FOR PETS. IF RULES ARE BROKEN THE ARE GIVEN PROPER NOTICE. WHEN I SEE THE PET OUTSIDE THE THIRD TIME I TAKE IT OFF THE PROPERTY. THE OWNER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED THIS WILL HAPPEN. WE ARE IN THE COUNTY AND DO NOT HAVE AN ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER. THE CITY WILL NOT TAKE THEM. I USUALLY JUST DUMP THEM. I'M SORRY ALL YOU ANIMAL LOVERS BUT I ALMOST GOT MYSELF ARRESTED ONCE OVER SOME CATS! HOPE THIS HELPS. YOU HAVE TO BE TOUGH.

[chrissy]

Louise, I will be glad to send you the Community Comparison Grid and some information on dogs. Some of the more standard restrictions on pets mirror the state law, county ordinances, and health department ordinances. These relate to not allowing them to run loose, not breeding for commercial purposes, and cleaning up after them. Most other restrictions on pets relate to lifestyle issues, such as no outdoor pens or houses, not tying them outside, keeping their shots current and license fees paid, and agreeing to remove them if they become a nuisance. If you have more questions after you receive the information from me, please feel free to contact me.

[rmurray]

So you take your problems....for which you are getting paid to handle and dump them on some unsuspecting property owner....Does not seem right to me..

[CHARLOTTE B.]

MURRY,
I AM THE COMMUNITY OWNER WHO IS DUMPING THE DOGS. WE ARE IN A SMALL TOWN. I DO NOT HAVE TO GO FAR TO BE OUT IN THE COUNTRY.
DO YOU HAVE A BETTER SOLUTION? I WILL BE GLAD TO HERE IT, PLEASE
CHARLOTTE B. [email protected]

[rmurray]

"Out in the country" is land that belongs to somebody..Most often...some sort of farming operation...and abandoned domesticated pets get in the way and can be costly...It is not right to dump your problems and trash on thier property...How would you like it if Mr. Farmer brought his sick or dead cow and dropped it in your park..

The best solution would be to talk to a vet...make arrangements to have the abandoned pet euphanized...this way it will not add to the problem..and you are solving your own comercial problems in a responsible way..

[Charlie]

Charlotte,
I have the same problems in the Community that I manage and maintain with Barking dogs, also many that are permitted to run at large. Like you we have no Animal Control so have to deal with the problem my-self. I was given this trick by one of my Tenants an old farmer, soak a sponge in bacon grease and throw it to the dog. End of problem. You may want to try it Charlotte but wonder if we would have the same result throwing the sponge the the DOG'S Owner.

[Louise Davidson]

I see that I started a few letters having to do with our Best Mans Freind.
I have not had very much luck with having all our residents picking up after there
animals.I would say that when you are not looking they all don't pick up.

The residents that I have in the resort are very close to there pets and love them to no end. So my solution is if I can't watch them at all times and have to pick up behind them, supply bags for the droppings, I say that it's time to get them were it hurts the most in the pocket book, and if I catch them not picking up after the dog has done its thing we fine them, so that hurts twice as much.

One way or another we have to make them responsible for there pets.

[Kristen]

Dear Louise,

I have never understood the logic behind restricting a dog's size or charging extra for having a pet. I've seen plenty of small dogs that are a bigger problem than what a large dog could even think about being and why should responsible pet owner's be deprived of having a furry friend because of some irresponsible ones?

I have a list of "fines" outlined in my Lease. These fines are imposed upon a resident after being notified that they are in violation of the Lease and/or Rules and Regulations of the community. The fines are specified in the Lease as becoming due as additional rent and subject to the same terms as regular rentals due. (Failure to pay all charges in full can result in eviction for non-payment of rent).

One of the fines is for pet violations, ie: pets not properly restrained, failure to clean up excrement and noise. It is a $5 per occurrence charge, meaning that after a single written warning, future occurrences of the same problem will result in a $5 fine being assessed to the resident's rental account.

You'd be amazed at how your residents will respond to the warnings about Lease and Rules & Regulations violations when they know it's going to cost them if they ignore it.

[David Oxhandler]

I own a small community and also have found abandoned dogs roaming the property in hopes of food and/or friendship. We have developed a sure fire solution. I simply load them into the back of my car, take them home with me.

We feed them, groom them and even do some very basic training with some. We do post "found dog" notices around our little town, but if no one claims them we offer them for adoption. Our local daily newspaper, like many, prints "free to good home" ads at no cost. Last year we turned 5 tramps into loved family pets.

Any community manager that feels he has the right to terminate the life of an animal that strays into their community, and can not develop alternatives simply lacks imagination. The turn around program does not have to be a burden on management if they are not animal lovers. With out much trouble you can find the right folks in any neighborhood who would love to take this role.

There is always more than one way to skin a cat... or make lemonade