EXCLUSIONS
This policy does not apply to animals that are used to
assist persons with disabilities. Assisstive animals are allowed in all public
housing facilities with no restrictions other than those imposed on all tenants
to maintain their units and associated facilities in a decent, safe, and
sanitary manner and to refrain from disturbing their neighbors.
PETS IN Public Housing
The Area XV MCHA allows for pet ownership in its
developments with the written pre-approval of Area XV. Residents are responsible
for any damage caused by their pets, including the cost of fumigating or
cleaning their units. In exchange for this right, resident assumes full
responsibility and liability for the pet and agrees to hold the Area XV MCHA
harmless from any claims caused by an action or inaction of the pet.
Approval
Residents must have the prior written approval of
Area XV MCHA before moving a pet into their unit. Residents must request
approval on the Authorization for Pet Ownership Form that must be fully
completed before the Housing Authority will approve the request. Residents must
give the Housing Authority a picture of the pet so it can be identified if it is
running loose.
Types and Number of Pets
Area XV MCHA will allow only common
household pets. This means only domesticated animals such as a dog, cat, bird,
rodent (including a rabbit), fish in aquariums or a turtle will be allowed in
units. Common household pets do not include reptiles (except turtles). If this
definition conflicts with a state or local law or regulation, the state or local
law or regulation shall govern.
All dogs and cats must be spayed or
neutered before they become six months old. A licensed veterinarian must verify
this fact.
Cats must be de-clawed before they
become six months old. A licensed veterinarian must verify this fact.
Only one pet per unit
will be allowed.
Any animal deemed to be potentially
harmful to the health or safety of others, including attack or fight trained
dogs, will not be allowed.
No animal may exceed 18 inches in height
and thirty-five pounds in weight projected to full adult size.
Inoculations
In order to be registered,
pets must be appropriately inoculated against rabies, distemper and other
conditions prescribed by state and/or local ordinances. They must comply with
all other state and local public health, animal control, and anti-cruelty laws
including any licensing requirements. A certification signed by a licensed
veterinarian or state or local official shall be annually filed with Area XV
MCHA to attest to the inoculations.
Pet Deposit
Upon approval of a pet by Area XV MCHA,
the resident shall be required to pay a monthly fee of $15.00; due with each
month's rent payment. A refundable pet deposit of $200 will be required.
The $15.00 monthly fee is for general costs to the Housing Authority associated
with the presence of pets. The refundable deposit is to cover costs attributed
to damage caused by specific pets.
Financial Obligation of Residents
Any resident who owns or keeps a pet in
their dwelling unit will be required to pay for any damages caused by the pet.
Also, any pet-related insect infestation in the pet owner's unit will be the
financial responsibility of the pet owner and the Area XV MCHA reserves the
right to exterminate and charge the resident.
Nuisance or Threat to Health or Safety
The pet and its living quarters must be
maintained in a manner to prevent odors and any other unsanitary conditions in
the owner's unit and surrounding areas.
Repeated substantiated complaints by
neighbors or Area XV MCHA personnel regarding pets disturbing the peace of
neighbors through noise, odor, animal waste, or other nuisance may result in the
owner having to remove the pet or move him/herself.
Pets who make noise continuously and/or
incessantly for a period of 10 minutes or intermittently for one half hour or
more to the disturbance of any person at any time of day or night shall be
considered a nuisance.
Designation of Pet areas
Pets must be kept in the owner's
apartment or on a leash at all times when outside the unit (no outdoor cages may
be constructed). Pets will be allowed only in designated areas on the grounds of
the property if Area XV MCHA designates a pet area for the particular site. Pet
owners must clean up after their pets and are responsible for disposing of pet
waste.
To accommodate residents who have
medically certified allergic or phobic reactions to dogs, cats, or other pets,
those pets may be barred from certain units in our development.
MISCELLANEOUS RULES
Pets may not be left unattended in a
dwelling unit for over eight hours. If the pet is left unattended and no
arrangements have been made for its care, Area XV MCHA will have the right to
enter the premises and take the uncared for pet to be boarded at a local animal
care facility at the total expense of the resident.
Pet bedding shall not be washed in any
common laundry facilities.
Residents must take appropriate actions
to protect their pets from fleas and ticks.
All dogs must wear a tag bearing the
resident's name and phone number and the date of the latest rabies inoculation.
Pets cannot be kept, bred or used for
any commercial purpose.
Residents owning cats shall maintain
waterproof litter boxes for cat waste. Refuse from litter boxes shall not
accumulate or become unsightly or unsanitary. Litter shall be disposed of in an
appropriate manner.
A pet owner shall physically control or
confine his/her pet during the times when Area XV employees, agents of Area XV
or others must enter the pet owner’s apartment to conduct business, provide
services, enforce lease terms, etc.
If a pet causes harm to any person, the
pet’s owner shall be required to permanently remove the pet from Area XV's
property within 24 hours of written notice from Area XV. The pet owner may also
be subject to termination of his/her dwelling lease.
A pet owner who has violated any other
conditions of this policy may be required to remove his/her pet from the
development within 10 days of written notice from Area XV MCHA. The pet owner
may also be subject to termination of his/her dwelling lease.
Area XV MCHA's grievance procedures
shall be applicable to all individual grievances or disputes arising out of
violations or alleged violations of this policy.
Visiting Pets
Pets that meet the size and
type criteria outlined above may visit the projects/buildings where pets are
allowed for up to 24 hours without Area XV MCHA's approval. Tenants who have
visiting pets must abide by the conditions of this policy regarding health,
sanitation, nuisances, and peaceful enjoyment of others. If visiting pets
violate this policy or cause the tenant to violate the lease, the tenant will be
required to remove the visiting pet.
REMOVAL OF PETS
Area XV MCHA, or an appropriate community
authority, shall require the removal of any pet from a project if the pet's
conduct or condition is determined to be a nuisance or threat to the health or
safety of other occupants of the project or of other persons in the community
where the project is located.
In the event of illness
or death of pet owner, or in the case of an emergency which would prevent the
pet owner from properly caring for the pet, Area XV MCHA has permission to call
the emergency caregiver designated by the resident or the local Pet Law
Enforcement Agency to take the pet and care for it until family or friends would
claim the pet and assume responsibility for it. Any expenses incurred will be
the responsibility of the pet owner.
