Do pets bear the main responsibility for soiled carpeting in hallways? Not according to this contributor (unit owner in a condo in Boca Raton, FL): "In my building we have interior halls and a  lobby w/carpeting vs. exterior entry to each apartment via catwalk and we  have a bigger sanitation issue  from incontinent elderly people having accidents than anyone’s pets. The carpeting has not been changed in 20 years and is disgusting to say the least." If you are worried about cat spraying, click here for more information on solutions for inappropriate feline urination.

The Humane Society of the United States offers info on Removing Pet Stains and Odors. A number of cleaning product and pet care companies offer pet-safe solutions for cleanup issues. Products like Pet Pee Pee let you completely remove pet urine odor. Dr. Jon at PetPlace.com recommends an odor control product called Zero Odor that works really well. It actually neutralizes urine odor so it can't come back to haunt you. These products don't just "mask" odors - they eliminate them.

No one wants to deal with a serious problem where irresponsible PEOPLE do not clean up after their animals.  If a problems persists, call in city/county officials to deal with the issue.  You are paying taxes for them to enforce health and sanitation laws!

(What's the greenest way to pick up after your pet? Read this article.)

Pets need to be kept away from people with allergies

As a first line of defense, we recommend that the person with allergies (and possibly also the pet owner/guardian) get room air filters, such as HEPA filters or ionic air purifiers. Research has shown that sllergic persons are less susceptible to pet dander when they wear freshly washed t-shirts. Removing carpeting also helps. Even vacuuming carpets once or twice a week can reduce exposure to airborn allergens. Read more from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology here: Battling Pet Allergies. There are brands of air purifying filters for cooling/heating systems that have greatly increased performance trapping allergens, dust and pollen. One example is 3M Filtrete air filters. Worried about pet dander if you share a laundry room with other people? TV ads for laundry dryer sheets claim to remove the hair and dander! (It is the dander - a protein found in pet skin - and also saliva that cause allergic reactions, not hair.)

The allergy issue is often a spurious argument. Most people with pet allergies are okay if they are not in close quarters with the offending animal for any length of time. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology says that "Keeping Pets out out the bedroom can help reduce allergy symptoms." (Reference: http://www.aaaai.org/patients/elements/2009/06/0609_elements.pdf) Well, a neighbor's pet is not going to be in your bedroom! If pets are banned because of possible allergies to them, then there should also be bans on cigarettes, perfumes and home deodorizing products.  If a building allows scents to travel between units, any of these items could be allergens.  Consult an engineer, HVAC specialist or an air filtration expert for assistance determining whether allergens from your animal are infiltrating other units and for possible solutions, if needed.

Outside in the common areas is a different story.  Unless people are right next to the "offending" pet, there is no reason for objection.  If you have a neighbor who is allergic, you should have the courtesy to not bring your pet right up next to them.  Let them use the elevators and wait your turn to bring your pet on the elevator.

Kristen Levine at Bissell has some advice to help prevent allergies. See New Research Shows Having a Pet is Hairy Situation.

Pets are at risk when their (senior) guardians pass away

All too often seniors have pets that outlive them. They wind up in kill shelters because family, friends and neighbors are unwilling to adopt and care for the once beloved pet. The pets' lives are ended prematurely. If seniors really love their pets then providing for them after death is a HUGE consideration that should be taken seriously while we are still alive. Provisions should be provided for in their wills and financing set aside to accommodate their wishes.  See "A way to care for your pet, even after your death."

Pet Guardian is a service created to answer the question, "What happens to your pets if something happens to you?"

According to Animal Legal and Historical Center, 39 states (including Florida) have enacted Companion Animal (Pet) Trust Laws. Read more about pet trust law and find a link to a sample pet trust document in our legal information section Contact an estate and tax planning lawyer, eg. Locksley A. Rhoden, ESQ, in Hallandale, FL, for more information. Another resource is the Pet Trust Law Blog by Danny E. Meek Esq of Naples, FL.

You can learn more about lifetime care planning for companion pets by contacting 2nd Chance 4 Pets, 2ndchance4pets.org or (408) 871-1133. This is the process of documenting instructions for the care of a companion pet, formally identifying guardians and setting aside funds for the care of a companion pet.

Also contact the Broward County Humane Society, or the national HSUS, for more information on this topic. Here for an article on Dr. Jon's PetPlace.com on How to Ensure your Dog's Care After Your Death. Here is a link to more info from the HSUS website: http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/providing_for_your_pets_future_without_you/. ASPCA and Best Friends may also have some information on this topic.

See also what you can do to support the Charitable Pet Trusts Act, being introduced by Doris Day Animal League => click here.

Elderly people in senior housing can become unable to properly care for their pets 

While people can become disabled or infirm at any age, some people wrongly think that seniors should not have pets due to an increased risk that they will not be able to clean up      after their pets or restrain them from jumping on other people, etc. Citizens for Pet in Condos takes the position that each person should be allowed to decide FOR THEMSELVES whether they are capable of keeping pets. It should not be the decision of the community association.

There are organizations like the Pet Project that help people who become severely disabled or terminally ill take care of their pets. People with such extreme problems are just the ones who need the calming effect of having an animal companion.

Recognizing how people are inseparable from their pets, the Meals on Wheels Association of America has started helping out with food for pets as well as their owners. Though the priority is providing meals to seniors — four in 10 Meals on Wheels chapters nationwide have waiting lists — the agency says the pet food program improves the quality of life for its clients. “For most of our clients, their pet is probably the most important thing in their lives. It’s their family and the only friendly face they see,” said Enid A. Borden, CEO of Meals On Wheels Association of America. “That’s why this program is so important.” Volunteers all over the country help in efforts like this. The Pet Project provides a similar service to help people be able to keep their pets when they become ill. For an example, see Meals on Wheels for Pets in Nassau County, Florida. Elsewhere in Florida, local volunteer Dr. Shirley Jacobs and her husband collect pet food at donation centers such as Publix Supermarkets and bring the pet food toCaring Kitchen to help indigent people be able to feed their pets.

Dogs make too much noise

Dog guardians should keep windows closed (and use air conditioning instead) if their dog barks a lot.  Dogs should never be tied up outside, even in a home owner association housing complex.  Most humane societies consider tying up dogs to be a form of animal cruelty.

Training can help with problem barking.  Ask Joy Behar on ABC TV's "The View."  She did a segment on getting dog training to minimize her dogs' barking every time someone came to the door. The Purina Care Pet Health Library features an article on dealing with barking behavior.

Dogs can bite - liability for injury caused by pets

Proper behavioral training and the use of supplements such as Poyz can greatly reduce the potential for biting.

"Under Florida law, a dog's OWNER is strictly liable for any damages cause by the dog.  That means that even if the owner was not negligent in any way whatsoever, he or she has to pay for the damages the dog caused.

... associations would only have liability if they were in some way negligent, such as allowing a dog that was known to be aggressive to remain." --Marcy I. LaHart, Esq (Citizens for Pets in Conod's , legal advisor, 561.655.9537, www.floridaanimallawyer.com) See also How signage affects liability for dog bites..

There is no need to restrict dogs by breed or size to reduce risk of aggression.  Each animal should be individually evaluated, including their disposition, their basic obedience training, and the responsibility of the owner/guardian. According to experts, "...small dogs bite way more often then large dogs." On their web page, HSBC says "The Humane Society of Broward County firmly believes that every animal deserves a good,  loving, lifetime home.  Animals are not born "bad," but unfortunately they often fall victim to people who train them to be mean, aggressive, or destructive." Click here for more good info from HSBC on dog breed fallacies. Best Friends Animal Society has some good information on the high cost of breed discrimination. You can look up how much is spent on breed bans by location. Recently, two of the pit bulls seized from Michael Vicks dog-fighting ring were sucessfully retrained as therapy dogs. See Two dogs given a new chance at life are now helping people to heal physically and emotionally. Also, check out Miami Coalition Against Breed Specific Legislation. A recent study shows that banning pit bulls does nothing to reduce dog bites.

Click here to learn the TRUTH about much maligned pit bulls.

In defense of larger dogs, Pamela Page writes to us saying, "People often ask me how I can have a German Shepherd in my condo. For Annabelle, it meant a chance at a happy life. As a shy and sickly survivor of a home-based breeding operation, she would have surely been euthanized due to lack of a home. Thank goodness, my condo association allows a one-time exception to the weight limit for the first owner, and has wonderful pet walk areas and several waste pick-up stations. Annabelle has the run of the condo, which is actually much larger than my previous single-family home. There are also quiet residential roads nearby for long walks."