Pets and Depression and family legal advice

[stomachmonkey]

Here's the short story.

My older brother suffers from depression.

He is on Prozac.

2.5 years ago he took in two kittens.

They have had a profound positive impact on his condition.

He owns a condo in FL.

He is not allowed to have pets.

Someone dropped dime on him and the HOA has sent him a notice that the cats need to go.

He is devastated. This will be a huge setback for him.

Spare me the he is breaking the rules. We know that. He will sell the place and move but in this market he can't make that happen in the time needed.

I believe his Dr. will write a "prescription" for the cats.

Any precedent that would make this a worthwhile tack to take.

BTW he also has high blood pressure and it is documented that pets help with that.

I'm know I'm reaching here but this is a very serious situation for my family.

We need to buy some time.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Tell his HOA to go "F" themselves. I certainly would. If they make an issue out of it, I'd seriously move over it.

Pets are family. HOAs are nazi nuisances. It's a matter of priorities.

[Racerbvd]

You aren't reaching & I feel his pain, only a real A-hole would take away/harm a mans pets. I know how bad it feels to lose one, and suffer the big D myself, so I can tell you, cats are a big help, which is one reason I push events that raise $$$ for them. Where in FL is he?? I might be able to take care of them while he relocates.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Tell his HOA to go "F" themselves. I certainly would. If they make an issue out of it, I'd seriously move over it.

Pets are family. HOAs are nazi nuisances. It's a matter of priorities.

Someone else in the development tried that a couple of years ago.

They went to court. They lost. They had to pay the HOA's attorney fees. Roughly $30k according to my mother.

HOA is populated by a bunch of retired people with nothing better to do.

I can see their viewpoint. Sticking to the rules is less trouble than dealing with exceptions.

I need a legal or as close to legal as possible reason for them to be able to make an exception and have an answer for it that still allows them to enforce the rules.

[Wickd89]

Small quiet pets like most cats should be ok. I bet other condos have birds, cats, fish, etc...

Find out who else have them and get the association to agree that everyone has to be a little more tolerant.

Now if it were dogs, I think this would be a different matter. They need to leave the building to go out, they bark, they can make noise running around, etc. They ARE GREAT, but in a condo with pet rules, I think that is not fair. Once again, cats are totally different (use a kitty litter, soft on their feet, relatively quiet, etc)...

[Moses]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Tell his HOA to go "F" themselves. I certainly would. If they make an issue out of it, I'd seriously move over it.

Pets are family. HOAs are nazi nuisances. It's a matter of priorities.

Absolutely. How much trouble could his cats be possibly be to the neighbors? Buttwads.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Racerbvd

You aren't reaching & I feel his pain, only a real A-hole would take away/harm a mans pets. I know how bad it feels to lose one, and suffer the big D myself, so I can tell you, cats are a big help, which is one reason I push events that raise $$$ for them. Where in FL is he?? I might be able to take care of them while he relocates.

Near Lauderdale.

The two of you actually have A LOT in common.

He runs the service dept for Lipton Toyota.

Thinks about two things, cars and chicks.

He's looking for a 930.

Has a Formula Ford and a his warehouse that is too full of "stuff" to be of any use.

One day we are in a stationary store, bunch of posters of cars and chicks on the wall.

He is staring at them.

Counter girl asks "which one are you looking at, the car or the girl?"

Brother responds "Car, it's more responsive and does not talk back"

[pwd72s]

I concur...keep the cats. Move if necessary, but keep the cats. They are indeed therapy!

[Danny_Ocean]

Here is everything you need:

http://www.petsincondos.org/legal.htm

This organization is located in Broward County. They can help him directly.

[competentone]

This might help:

http://www.petsincondos.org/legal.htm

Edit: "Great minds think alike" -- or maybe just use the same search engine....

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Danny_Ocean

Here is everything you need:

http://www.petsincondos.org/legal.htm

This organization is located in Broward County. They can help him directly.

THAT is why I LOVE this board.

That's the link I was looking for.

Thanks.

[cl8ton]

Cats are great companions!
I would catch the other HOA members doing a pig on video and threaten to post it on u-tube.

I wish your brother good luck!

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by Wickd89

...cats are totally different (...soft on their feet, relatively quiet, etc)...

Ha! You have never owned a Bengal...



Wilson T. Cat = 5'+ vertical leaping, one-cat wrecking crew...

[nostatic]

how in the world can a HOA govern what goes on inside your place if there is no external impact?

[the]

Easy. You consent to be governed by the rules when you choose to buy the place. Like any contract.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by nostatic

how in the world can a HOA govern what goes on inside your place if there is no external impact?

Problem is, the pet OWNER'S create the problem. One of the buildings I occasionally live in has a "no pet" rule. However, the board has a "don't ask, don't tell" policy and no-one bothers us "cat people". Now, there are two people in the building with small dogs. They live on the top (9th) floor. So...where do they walk Fido when it's raining or it's late and they don't feel like walking down 9 flights of stairs? In the stairwell. Dog poop in the stairwell. Great.

So, now the board can't single them out, as they can claim "selective enforcement" (you aren't picking on the cat people, just us dog-people). The board "bent" the rules by (quietly) allowing cats, and now we have to live with scumbags who think walking their dogs in the stairwells is acceptable.

Wanna live in a nice condo? Better have a strong-handed board.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Put a camera in the stairwell. Problem solved.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by nostatic

how in the world can a HOA govern what goes on inside your place if there is no external impact?

Most condo's have many rules as to what goes on inside: remodeling, home-based businesses, number of people allowed overnight, window coverings, contractors allowed to work inside, etc., etc.

If you've never owned a condo in FLA, you ain't seen 'nuthin.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Put a camera in the stairwell. Problem solved.

LOL squared. Now you're asking the board (we're on a fixed income...we eat dog-food to survive) to spend MONEY?!?

They had an issue with damage in the elevators (movers, deliverymen, contractors, etc.). What was their bright idea? Fake video cameras. And not the convincing fake cameras, but the $9.99 fake cameras you buy on the Internet. Problem not solved. (Someone stole the cameras)...

Please...don't get me started.

[tabs]

Well without knowing what that pet organization has to offer I would say that you have to play the game. Probably have an attorney write a letter with a MDs recommendation. That if any harm comes due to the loss of the theaurputic effect the cats have your family is going to sue the beegezus out of the HOA. Make the HOA Board Menmbers look like hearless fiends. Call the news media...all sorts of fun and games that can buy you time. Make the b@stards squirm.