Proactive Pet Policies for Your HOA
From Lassie to Marley, Americans have a long history of loving their pets. According to The Harris Poll, 62% of households have at least one pet, and 95% of pet owners consider pets part of their family.
In fact, according to the same poll:
45% of pet owners say they've frequently bought birthday presents for their pets, up 5 points from 2012 and 8 points since 2007.
Three in ten (31%) say they frequently or occasionally cook, especially for their pets, up 7 points since 2012 and 8 points since 2007.
Proactive pet policies create responsible pet owners. Several community associations have rules about pets. However, regulations based on the size, breed, or some pets are only sometimes fair for residents who want more options when choosing a furry companion.
While the pet rules may differ among community associations, HOAs can find common grounds that respect the relationship between a man and his best friend.
You can ease these concerns by educating residents about the covenants, conditions, limitations, the community's by-laws, and rules that the community's leadership can reasonably support.
Create Sensible Pet Policies
Creating sensible pet policies is the key to coexistence in a community that allows pets. Below are suggestions for keeping your residents safe and sound—while respecting residents' relationships with their furry family members.
Rules based on behaviors—not breed or weight—is most effective.
Keep your residents comfortable by requiring that dogs stay on a leash in common areas.
Prevent pet waste from becoming a problem. Place big trash containers and pet waste bags strategically around the property. Community security or wildlife cameras can also help identify poo-ditching offenders.
If a dog's barking is an issue, suggest that pet owners use physically and mentally stimulating smart toys. These toys keep dogs preoccupied, which makes them less likely to bark. Setting up a dog park is another excellent way to get dogs to socialize to curb unexpected behaviors.
Sterilizing your pet prevents accidental litter and affects a pet's inclination for aggressive behavior. Require resident pets to be spayed or neutered for everyone's safety and peace of mind.
What Can Board Members Do?
When reasonable rules are in place, pet ownership can improve your community's quality of life. Therefore, it's essential to stay informed about community concerns, which are more positive and proactive concerning pet-owning. As always, contact Condominium Associates with questions or concerns about pet laws in your community. Thank you for doing your part to help keep pets with the folks that love them.
