(modeled after a real document at a south Florida condominium association, name replace by xxxxx)
The following Dog Owners’ Rules & Regulations are intended as a means to aid everyone in being a good resident of xxxxxx. As such, it is your responsibility to aid in the enforcement of these rules. If any of us see another owner who is not controlling their dog or is not following the rules then we MUST inform that owner or Management of the violation.
All dog owners shall pick up (and acknowledge receipt in writing) a copy of the current rules every year. This is to be done at the office early in the year or when you first arrive at xxxxx for your stay. You acknowledge that you understand the rules; you agree to obey the rules and ensure your pets obey the rules; you acknowledge that you understand you are to help enforce the rules, with other owners and that if you mistakenly do not obey any rule, that you expect, acknowledge, and appreciate other owners or Management who point out such to you.
You acknowledge that under the terms of the xxxxx Condominium Association Documents, which are legal enforceable documents, that keeping a pet at the xxxxx is NOT A RIGHT but rather a Conditional License that is subject to termination at any time by the board upon finding that a dog or other pet is viscous, is annoying to other residents or has in any way become a nuisance. As a responsible Pet Owner, following these rules and ensuring your pet is a responsible member of our community is mandatory to retaining this Conditional License. By way of this document, we identify the “Conditions” under which the License to xxxxx Pet Owners is granted.
By signing below, you understand that the Board can assess various forms of enforcement; including but not limited to warnings, mandate muzzling, fines, legal action and if necessary, revocation of the License, in which case your pet will be removed from xxxxx premises within 48 hours.
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Owner / Unit # Manager
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Date
Number of animals allowed (eg. 1 dog or cat per unit, or preferable - 2 dogs, 2 cats and 1 dog or cat per unit)
Specific Dog Owner Policy Including Visitors with Pets
xxxxx is a Pet Friendly Community which requires sensitivity to feelings of all Residents. The Association’s Governing Documents state that the permission to own a pet at xxxxx is not a right, but a Conditional License. This document defines those Conditions. Please note Conditions stated herein also apply to guests with dogs visiting owners.
Any dog, judged by Management, through its actions or behavior to show traits that are aggressive to other residents may be required to obtain a Canine Good Citizen or Socialization Certificate to verify that pet and it’s owner can live responsibly in our community. Such classes are held locally with information available at the Management Office or through PetSmart on US #1 in Jensen Beach.
License Conditions (per condominium documents):
· No pet is permitted to create an unreasonable source of noise or annoyance to other residents of the Condominium.
· No pet may be kept outside any unit in the absence of the owner of the unit.
· All dogs shall be kept on a leash or in the owner’s arms when outside of the owners unit. NO EXCEPTIONS.
· Owners must pick up after their pet immediately. Dog walk areas are designated and clean up stations provided. It is suggested that owners carry clean up supplies with them between units and this area. Should it ever happen that an owner has to leave a mess to get clean up supplies, they are to do so immediately, clean up the mess, and contact the office ASAP informing them of the incident. It is important this step be taken so in the event of the office receiving a complaint they can readily state the accident is being taken care of by the responsible pet owner.
· As a courtesy to others, please do not allow your pets in the Social Room, Library, Billiard Room, or Exercise Room, and please use main lobby only as a passage in or out of the buildings when accompanied by your pet. Pets are only permitted on the Pool Deck to traverse to and from the beach.
Enforcement
All dog owners are responsible to enforce the rules for their own dogs and help other dog owners by ensuring they too obey xxxxx’s Pet License Conditions. Management and the board have the right in their sole judgement to impose discipline which might include:
· Verbal warning.
· Written warnings.
· Fines. (with no warnings $50- $100 for not cleaning up an accident or unleashed dogs)
· Other penalties which can be applied to any Pet Owner who allows their dog to show aggressive behavior towards a human or other owner’s pet -
1. Certificate of completion of the Canine Good Citizen Course or similar Pet Socialization/Behavior course ;
2. Muzzle required when outside of the unit boundaries;
3. Suspension of Conditional License or other such penalties as may be required to eliminate the threat of future injury caused by that pet.
4. Termination of the Conditional License to have a pet and removal of the pet from the premises.
Elevator Etiquette
Not all people are comfortable with dogs, especially in confined spaces. We as dog owners understand this. When an elevator arrives, if there is anyone in the elevator, we will ask (and understand) if they would prefer for us to wait for the next elevator.
Aggressive / Vicious Behavior:
While most dogs (and most pets) are good neighbors and do not show signs of aggression, there can be exceptions.
In the spirit of being good neighbors, we as dog owners understand that from time to time it will be necessary for the management to make specific judgments in this regard and put various restrictions on specific dogs – either for a period of time or indefinitely.
When Management has determined that a dog has shown signs of aggression, any or all of the following remedies may be implemented:
· Unprovoked attacks on another human resident are most serious and except in exceptional circumstances shall result in immediate removal from the xxxxx property. Attempted attacks are more difficult to substantiate but should it be determined that if serious incidents have taken place they are subject to the same treatment.
· Insistence on the dog wearing a muzzle while in commonly owned xxxxx property.
· Obtaining a Canine Good Neighbor Certification (or equivalent) to verify that the dog is and will remain a good neighbor and the owner has control of their pet.