Condo Owner Leads Pet Petition Protest By Jack Owen, Staff Writer The Lake Worth Herald/Coastal Observer, November 9, 2006 PALM BEACH - Coastal condo owner David Shapiro is one of 8,500 pet-lovers who have signed a petition protesting their pet peeve, rules and regulations which deny them blissful retirement in the Sunshine State. "I spent 30 years of my life teaching 5th and 8th grad kids English and Social Studies in New York City.  I should be allowed to enjoy retirement with my dog in my own home," Shapiro, vice-president of the "Citizens for Pets in Condos" organization , said. His immaculately furnished fifth floor apartment contains three items not found elsewhere at the South Ocean Boulevard Palm Sea condo complex; a food bowl, a water bowl and a dog cage to tan Lab-mix Lexie. She is there by the grace of Federal Law statutes governing the rights of Americans with disabilities and SARA, the Service Animal Registry of America organization, as a bona fide Service Animal. story continues below   picture courtesy of The Lake Worth Herald/Coastal Observer

Shapiro bought his condo in 1992, when the pet laws were more accommodating, but usually boarded his first dog named Lexie, who died at the age of 16, in Manhattan when he visited Florida.

But by the time he retired in 1996 dogs had been banned at the condo.

"The only thing you could have were home-bound, de-clawed, neutered cats," he said.

His subsequent lengthy saga of conflict and cost with condo regulators - upwards of $12,000 in legal fees plus $8,000 to keep his companion in a kennel - is a familiar one to Floridians.

It's a back-burner issue which is gaining grass-roots support via hard copy petitions placed where pet-owners congregate such as veterinarians, specialty stores or doggie parks and online.

Shapiro discovered the organization earlier this year while in the throes of battling the board again, this time to accommodate Lexie II, a virtual clone puppy of his earlier dog, as a service animal.

The pro-pet organization is spearheaded by Maida Genser.  She managed to get the support of Florida State Rep. Julio Robaina (R-[Miami]) to sponsor legislation.

It is based on a California bill which allows residents of privately owned dwelling to keep pets - with a couple of common sense caveats aimed at owner training as well as animal.

"No governing documents shall prohibit an owner of a separate interest within a common interest development from keeping at least one pet within the common interest development subject to reasonable rules and regulations of the association."

Or- if you own a pet - vindictive and arbitrary board rules can't keep he/she/it out of your (private domicile) home.

Lexie II is tolerated under close scrutiny, with instant banishment if Shapiro's doctor-confirmed circumstances change.

Shaprio, eventually agreed to a legal compromise to allow his first dog to live out its last days with him.  The board granted "grandfather' live-in rights while Lexie survived and Shapiro agreed not to pursue further litigation.

But he tried a different tack with Lexie II.

"I submitted  two doctor's letters stipulating her presence was necessary for my continued good health, and a document from SARA certifying her registration," he said.

Due to doctor-patient privacy ethics there is no legal recourse to force specific health issues into the open.

A two-page terse acknowledgement of the tense truce between Shapiro and the condo board was delivered in Friday's mail.  But his position is a microcosm of numerous similar situations throughout the state, he said.

"I'm not a protester, trouble-maker or publicity hound," he explained.  "I came down here to spend my days enjoying teh sun, the weather and my retirement years in comfort away from conflict."

But his ire at what he considers fickle action of a bored board focused his spare time in activism with the "Citizens For Pets in Condos" organization.

"I heard about in in January, the petitions had been signed by more than 4,000 people in South Florida by May and today we have 8,600 signatures," he said.

The target is 50,000 signatures.

"We have to expand our activities into other communities in Florida, Central and North," Shapiro said.  The number sought is the minimum Rep. Robaina needs to see before actively introducing a bill to the legislature.

"There is no deadline - but he is one of the few in the state showing willingness to go against the power of the condo boards (voting blocs)," Shapiro said.

In the meantime he and Lexie, complete in her jacket and distinctive "Service Animal - On Duty" logo, parade whre pet-lovers gather and spread the word that signatures are needed.

Shapiro can be contacted at (561) 588-7487.  Rep Robaina at (850) 488-6506.  www.petsincondos.org