Petside.com

J.A. Morrison November 1, 2008 8:23 AM

The No Pets Rule is just plain bad. I do understand why that rule is in place though. I have seen first hand the damage that pets can cause to an apartment. When not well trained, cats can scratch woodwork and leave pet stains on carpets. Some untrained dogs will chew and also leave pet stains. Barking dogs and not cleaning up after walked dogs can be an issue also.
Right now my son is paying a family to care for his three cats while he looks for another apartment. The apartment they were in allowed pets until the complex was sold to someone else. The new owners took over and banned pets. Finding a new apartment has been a nightmare.
I do understand the apartment or Co-op's position but I know that pets give their owners so much love and devotion too. In our area, many complex owners charge a small amount per month more for rent if you have pets. That money is set aside to repair and replace damage done by pets. If you move and no damage is done then you get the deposit back.

Amy November 1, 2008 8:58 AM

I think this is outragous. Many elderly people have no family left in their lives. It is a known fact that owning a pet extends a persons will to live. They provide comfort and companionship where there is none. Their unconditional love is vital to the all people, but especially to the elderly.

Diana Bauer November 1, 2008 9:09 AM

I cannot imagine moving into any community which did not allow pets. On the other hand, there are people who detest animals, and they have a right to live in a pet-free environment. We ALL have the right to determine who we associate with.

My 90-year-old father-in-law, who now lives iwth us, is strongly anti-pet. Both our 14-year-old dog and 21-year-old cat have died in the past couple of years, and I miss them dreadfully. I will not, however, get another pet while my father-in-law is still living. I'll just have to satisfy myself with scrolling through PetFinder.com and sighing

Di.

Heather November 1, 2008 10:02 AM

The eviction case began in 2007 when the co-op board refused to make an exception for Coco, claiming that she is not a service dog, but only an emotional support for Mrs. Pasko. The bitter fight continues as one

NOT A SERVICE DOG!
Here is where that lady can get her dog in with the help and support of her doctor. He needs to write a letter to ALL those concerned stating Mrs. Pasko needs her dog and if anyone bothers to read up on Service Dogs, they will see, on the very outer edges there is a clause which includes....
"Companion Therapy Dogs"!

The condo where I live also has this rule about no cats or dogs. If, when these buildings were originally built, some 25 years ago, the original owner had a dog or cat, they were allowed to bring it in and keep till it passed away but NOT replace the animal! How stupid a rule is that? Needless to say it has caused a lot of hard feelings and now we have people sneaking pets in. A lot of my neighbors have cats which are kept indoors and they have never been told they had to get rid of them. I have a small dog now and when I first tried to get her in here, I went to our Board President and asked what I needed to get her in and was told just a letter from my doctor. I was ready for them and handed them the letter that was requested. Under the Service Dog Rules, one does NOT need any type of proof saying what type of Service Dog you have.

I really hope this information can get to Mrs. Pasko and it helps her as it did me.

Pets have been proven to lower a person's blood pressure and stress level and if an animal is wellbehaved and does not bark all the time and cause a lot of trouble for other people living there, why shouldn't they be allowed to stay? No one likes to listen to a barking dog but they can be trained NOT to bark. My dog does bark but only to let me know something isn't right or there is something outside that shouldn't be there.
NO PET rules are bad. Why not have NO Children rules as well? Some Senior communities have both but children can visit not live there. Anyone who is living alone and can afford to have a small pet and is able to take care of same should be allowed to have one. This "NO PET" rule needs to be re-examined as something is terribly wrong here!

Vicki November 1, 2008 12:57 PM

I feel so very badly for this poor woman. I do not like no pet rules, but do understand why some places have them. If I were in this womans position, I would find another place to live that would let me keep my dog.

Jud November 1, 2008 1:54 PM

I live in a "No-Pet" apartment complex. Although fish and birds are permitted, no other animals are. It was this way when I moved in, and although I comply with the rules, it doesn't mean that I like them.

Sherry November 1, 2008 4:12 PM

I believe our pets are very helpful to us. They make us more peaceful, and give us unconditional love. As long as the dog is well behaved how is it doing anyone any harm for people to have their pets. As long as they are being taken care of properly and not destroying the area around the home or apartment, again I say whats the harm. Maybe if the residents were aloud to have small pets to love maybe they might be a little sweeter themselves. I have two little dogs, a toy poodle and a maltese. I don't know what I'd ever do if I had to move someplace without them. They are like babies to me. I keep telling my husband if we would ever have to move and we couldn't find a place that would take our babies too, that we'll have to get a tent and pitch it. My life is so much better with these sweet and gentle creatures. I think the people that's trying to separate that poor woman from her little dog should be ashamed of themselves. The poor dear woman has lost so much already. As for the 97 year old that had no problem giving up her dog will good for her. Everyone is different. I've heard people say life is good when the children are grown and gone, and the dog is dead. I don't understand how people can feel this way. My idea of heaven on earth is having my loveones close, and that includes my little animal friends too. I feel sorry for these hard hearted people. I say give the pets a chance and after that if they mess things up, the people with the pets that messing things up, will have to get rid of them, and the ones who have the animals that aren't hurting anything should be allowed to keep them. Have a heart. People are worth so much more than money or the worth of property values.

Joanne November 1, 2008 5:33 PM

I think that no pet rules are absurd. I think that PEOPLE do way more damage than pets and that goes for hotels too.
That said - the woman in the article knew about the no pet policy when she moved in. Others have given up beloved pets to move into that condo - something that I would never do. Maybe she can change the policy but as it stands now she is sadly in violation of a policy she was fully aware of. A stupid policy? Yes. But their policy just the same.

Rani November 1, 2008 6:38 PM

It's a sad story and I understand how Mary feels, because I feel the same way about my cat, Baby.

However, there are several factors here. If Mary can train Coco to use a kitty-litter pan (which is not that far-fetched, since Coco weighs less than half what my cat weighs, and sounds very trainable) and if they offer to pay a substantial pet-deposit, she might have a one-chance-in-hell. If not, then forget it. Coco has to be walked and that means she pees outside on the grounds. They already disallow indoor cats and other totally quiet and clean pets. Mary knew from day 1 that there is an ironclad no-pets rule. If they break the rule for Mary, they will be forced to break the rule entirely and allow other pets, and that will mean more dogs peeing on the property, owners who are less conscientious than Mary about poop-scooping and barking, residents whose pets tear up the inside of their apartments and destroy the carpets. Once they make an exception, enter the problem pets and owners. I'm sorry to disagree with you on this one, Jo, because I'm as much a pet-lover as you are, but the people who own the co-op have rights, too, and the rules were in place before Mary moved in.

Yes, it's sad and I don't have a solution, unless they can find someone who lives locally who will take Coco and then Mary can go visit her every day.

Rani

Briana November 1, 2008 10:32 PM

I think no-pets policies are ridiculous. I agree that some pet owner are irresponsible. However I think thats easily resolved... Ask for an extra pet deposit, and maybe even an extra contract binding the owner to pay for any damages caused by the animal!
Its incredibly hard to find places that allow animals, and having had pets all my life I can not fathom the idea of living without some sort of pet. Its a little more expensive, but I know that many people would be a lot better off if they could have a pet in their home! Pets make everything better!

Carlyn Lister November 2, 2008 11:34 AM

Please let this lady keep her pet, anyone that doesn't love animals,doesn't love Jehovah. He made us all. I'm an animal lover myself & I wouldn't move into a place that didn't allow my five animals. (Two dogs,two cocktails & one cat.) All my animals was an abuse situation & most were give to me to adopt out but they never went any further. People don't realize that these animals have fillings too& they don't lie cheat nor deceive & they are kept as clean as their owner keeps them. May Jehovah bless you & your pet & I pray that you get to keep him. A.F.A. Carlyn

anne November 2, 2008 3:20 PM

i think this is very unfair
i have a very loving pitt
bull and her name is tiffany i could never give her up so she should not have to either i think that is animal discrimination dont you???

Sandy Ginger November 7, 2008 3:08 PM

I agree completely! It has been proven over and over that having a pet leads to longer more fulfilling lives. As a nurse, care giver of geriatric patients and dog lover. I could not begin to live a full and fulfilled life without my dog's companionship at my side.
I have seen patients faces light up when their pets come to visit them and then I have seen their progress in rehab. To just be able to go home with their pet.
Leave the old lady alone and let her have her dog.
Sandy

Brenda and Jerry Roberts June 17, 2009 11:08 PM

We also have a poodle named Cocoa and she is the most precious gift God ever gave to us Christmas eight years ago. I hope and pray that Mary keeps her Coco, I don't know what I would do if we were faced with that situation. Our baby goes everywhere with us and she is the joy of our life. Best of luck to you Mary.

laurie zavalcofsky August 23, 2009 10:36 PM

This is a no win situation, This 90 year woman has worked all her life and had a husband and now that her husband has passed she has filled this void with this loving poodle.Let her keep the dog and charge her an additional security if you think the dog is going to cause damages. But please don't take man's best friend from this woman it's all she has left.Leave her alone and allow her to be happy with her poodle.LOL.Laurie Fight for this cause eldly people need companions too.

Simone November 21, 2009 1:50 PM

In New York, the elderly can have a pet, regardless of the building rules. Also if you have a pet openly for ninety days and the co-op or condo doesn't act within that time, you can keep your pet. I think buildings that have no pet rules are run by uptight, narrow-minded people. I wouldn't want to be married to someone who didn't like pets. To me, pet discrimination is as bad as any other kind of discrimination. These rules tend to narrow the buyer pool when you're looking to sell your apartment. It's bad any way you look at it.

Alicia November 22, 2009 8:00 PM

I think the No Pet rule is wrong to have. Several of Seniors have no family and these pets are their family. As long as the pet is taken care of and causes no harm, then what's the big deal? We gave my mother-in-law a Doxie for Christmas. She was tols it was alright to have the dog, noe the place has new owners and they are saying she can't have it. She has been so upset that she is now making herself sick. This dog is her baby as all her children live so far away from her. This dog is taken care of better than most children and behaves better than most children. These people worked hard all their lives. They don't get crap for income and medical,a lot of them are forgotten about by family, a lot of them are treated poorly so why don't people just leave the seniors alone and let them have their pet.