Letter to the Editor
Appeared in “Condo News”, 8/15/2006
Recently, I placed an ad in the Condo News, entitled “STOP
CONDO WAR ONPETS! JOIN THE FIGHT AGAINST
CONDO BOARD TYRANNY.” Regrettably, this
was necessitated because of the repressive, strictly enforced “no pets” rule so
prevalent in many, if not most,
As Vice President of the website www.petsincondos.org, I have been working with countless others to promote progressive thinking regarding this subject. It is very apparent that the time has come to examine this archaic and senseless policy, which has proven so hurtful to so many over the years. You have but to look in the newspapers and the local TV News reports to see a steady stream of stories involving unit owners locked in bitter court battles over pet ownership.
Having myself been involved in just such a struggle, I can attest to the fact that the experience was both financially and emotionally bruising.
Our group is calling for reform of this unreasonable policy, effectively bringing an end to such gut-wrenching disputes, and allowing condominium neighbors to live in peace and harmony.
Rather than imposing a total ban on pets, condo associations would have the option of implementing strict guidelines governing the conduct of pets and the responsibilities of their owners. Penalties should be enacted – and enforced – by the association against those owners who fail to comply with these guidelines.
As of this writing, we have the names of more than 4,300 persons who have endorsed our campaign, with more signing on every day. Clearly, this is an idea whose time is long overdue. Common sense tells us that is just plain WRONG to deny people the loving companionship of a cat or dog. Is such blatant discrimination any les onerous that that which is directed against people because of their race, religion, skin color, or age? Change ought not to be seen necessarily as a bad or frightening thing. Those who persist in burying their head in the sand, and refusing to even consider such change do their communitiy and their neighbors a terrible disservice.
David Shapiro,
VP, Citizens for Pets in Condos