Residents, health group as condo
associations to allow pets
Dave Rossman,
Nanette Gordon lives in an
She now sits on the board of directors for Citizens for Pets in Condos, A Tamarac-based group seeking to change association policies prohibiting pet ownership.
“The health benefits, both physical and mental, of owning a
pet cannot be disputed,” she said.
“Because of a minority of irresponsible pet owners, we all
have to suffer.”
Gordon’s health benefit argument was bolstered recently when Humana Insurance came on board and partnered with the grass-roots organization.
“At Humana, we’re dedicated to providing guidance to our
members when they need it most, and in many cases that can be when folks would
benefit from the
companionship and affection a pet can
provide,” said Humana Florida Senior Products CEO Michael Seltzer.
Gordon said the rationale against pet ownership typically centers on noise or neglectful owners not picking up waste.
“I can understand fines for irresponsible owners, but a
total ban makes no sense,” he said.
“Also, I want cats, and I really don’t understand what harm a small,
indoor animal causes any neighbors.”
“I lost my mother and brother in the span of eight months
and have a range of health issues from fibromyalgia
to high blood pressue,” Kellman
said.
“I was told there can be no pets here, but when I arrived I saw several dogs.”
John Hart has been the president of Cresthaven’s Master Association since 2004 and said a few dogs were grandfathered in.
“It is true that two or three people had dogs, on of which
sat on the board at the time, and they were allowed to stay in 2002,” Hart
said. “That person is no
longer on the board, and I agree that it is a bit unfair.”
The Department of Housing and Urban Development does
stipulate that person with verifiable conditions documented by a physician,
psychiatrist, social
worker or other mental health professional can have pets in no-pet areas.
“I would love to have a pet, too, but we have to consider
the wisher of the to her 478 residents.
That said, we have met and decided she [Kellman]
can keep
her dog provided it is kept in certain areas,” Hart said.
Kellman claims the stipulated areas are near a like with an alligator and that she is not confident that she will be able to keep her dog.
The argument for pet ownership is not based solely on the
owner, but advocates also note the benefit to the animal population. “Not only do we help
responsible pet owners and guardians
keep their companion animals, but we also do our part to reduce the huge number of perfectly adoptable animals
who
die needlessly in shelters each day,”
said
Gordon drew parallels between other community restrictions
that do not result in prohibitions of any kind.
“If a neighbor has a loud party or parks in an
assigned space, do we ban gatherings and parking? No, we don’t.
We should certainly fine owners that do not pick up waste or whose pets
are anuisance,
but banning it entirely makes no sense,” she said.
Visit www.petsincondos.org