Almost everyone has a soft spot for animals, and just about every HOA allows pets within certain guidelines. Since pets are a reality, it is important for your HOA to establish clear, understandable, and easy to find guidelines on pets. No one wants to live next door to a dog that always barks, or a cat that uses flowerbeds as a litter box. And we know no HOA wants their community to show up on Animal Cops for an animal neglect case!
Here are some basic things you should know when it comes to pet policy with your HOA:
Establish the rules and share them
Before enforcing rules on pet owners, make sure your board is familiar with your HOA CC&Rs. Make sure what you’re telling people is accurate and enforced fairly for all pet owners. If you have wide spread problems, or don’t know who the offender is, send out a community newsletter addressing concerns and sharing the section of HOA CC&Rs that covers pet rules and guidelines.
Prevent Poop Problems
One of the biggest problems with pets (particularly dogs) is the disposal of waste. If you have a problem with dog feces in common areas, consider providing a pet waste station where bags and trash cans are available to pet owners.
Barking
All animals, especially dogs, will make noise. Don’t obsess over the occasional barking episode. If, however, there is one dog that barks more than not, talk with its owner. Some owners may not even be aware of the issue if it happens while they are at work, and in most cases, they will be willing to find an appropriate solution.
Leash Policy
For the safety of people and other neighborhood pets, make sure that a leash policy is enforced. A wandering pet can be a hazard to themselves and possibly to small children or other people who are out walking. Consider establishing an off-leash area so dog owners have a place to let dogs run without breaking rules.
At the end of the day, pets are family for most people. Take time to carefully draft and enforce pet guidelines that make sense for your community and residents. And always be sensitive and aware service animals! Different laws protect these animals, and it’s important to be aware of your state’s laws!
If you’d like to chat about pet policies to hear what works and what doesn’t, at Spectrum we’d love to help!
