ANIMAL POLICY
Under HUD guidelines and regulations, residents are allowed to have pets, but this does not apply to visitors. NOTE: NO VISITING PETS ARE ALLOWED.
COMMON HOUSEHOLD PETS ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. Bird: Including canary, parakeet, finch, and other species that are normally kept caged; birds of prey are not permitted. Not to exceed 3 birds.
2. Fish: In tanks or aquariums, not to exceed 5 gallons in capacity. Poisonous or dangerous fish are not permitted. Turtles maintained in a tank or aquarium.
3. Dog: Not to exceed 25 pounds at maturity. (size limitation does not apply to a service animal)
4. Cat: Species commonly used for household pets.
5. Hamsters and Gerbils maintained in a cage.
RULES FOR OWNERS OF PETS
The privilege of pet ownership may be revoked at any time subject to the Housing Authority Grievance Procedure if the animal becomes destructive or a nuisance to others, or if the tenant/owner fails to comply with the following:
A. Only one pet is allowed per apartment.
B. Tenant shall pay an additional security deposit for a pet as follows:
Cat or dog: $200.00
Others listed in this policy: $15.00
All animal deposits shall be held by the HRA until the tenant moves out. The deposit is not transferrable to a new pet.
C. Deposits must be paid in full prior to pet moving into the unit. The office must approve the pet prior to the pet moving into the building.
D. A monthly non-refundable administration fee of $2.00 per month for a cat or dog and $1.00 per month for any other approved animal shall be paid to the Housing Authority.
RULES FOR OWNERS OF PETS, SERVICE ANIMALS AND COMFORT ANIMALS
***Service and comfort animals must be approved by the office under reasonable accommodation guidelines or it will be considered a pet. ***
E. No animal may be kept in violation of the humane or health laws of the City, County or State.
F. Tenant must identify an alternate custodian for their animal in the event of absence from the unit or tenant illness which would prevent the tenant from properly caring for the animal.
G. A dog must be house trained and a cat must be litter box trained.
H. Tenant shall not permit any disturbance by their animal which would interfere with the quiet enjoyment of other tenants; whether by loud barking, howling, biting, scratching, growling,chewing, chirping or other such activity.
I. Tenant shall not alter their unit to create an enclosure for the animal.
J. Tenant is responsible for all damages caused by their animal including the cost of fumigation necessitated as a result of their animal.
K. Dogs and cats shall remain inside a tenant’s apartment unless they are on a leash or in a cage and directly controlled by an adult. Animals are not permitted in public areas of the building except while directly entering or exiting the building. Birds must be confined to a cage at all times.
L. Each cat owner shall provide a litter box for his/her cat. Each litter box shall be keptwithin the animal owner’s apartment. No less than weekly, the litter box shall becleaned and the accumulated wastes properly wrapped and disposed of in the garbage containers. Under no circumstances shall pet wastes or litter box material be disposed of through sinks, toilets or trash chutes. Litter waste must be carried to the dumpster by tenant. TheHousing Authority has the right to periodically check in the apartment to see thatanimal waste is being disposed of on a regular basis as indicated in this policy.
M. The owner of a dog or cat must properly remove and dispose of all waste caused by the animal in the building interiors, on the grass and on all paved areas of the Housing Authority immediately after each time the animal eliminates. (This includes washing and disinfecting affected areas in building interiors following an accident.) Waste should be disposed of by placing in a tied plastic bag and disposing in designated container.
N. Dog owners must have a bag for cleaning up waste elimination at all times when the dog is outside. If a dog owner is found to be with the animal but without a bag, they will be fined $10 for not be prepared to attend to their animal. If they are fined twice, the resident is subject to immediate removal of the animal upon the third finding of the resident without a bag.
O. In the event of an animal attack or bite, the animal must be removed within 24 hours of delivery notice.
P. An animal owner shall not take an animal into the apartment of another residentwithout the explicit permission of that resident.
Q. Tenant shall take adequate precautions to eliminate any animal odors within or around the unit and maintain said unit in a sanitary condition at all times.
R. The bathing of an animal shall not be permitted in the laundry room.
S. Dishes or containers for food and water will be located within the owner’s unit.
T. Animal owners will be responsible and liable for any and all bodily harm to the residents or individuals. Destruction of personal property belonging to others caused by owner’s animal will be the financial obligation of the animal owner.
U. An animal owner shall physically control or confine his/her animal during times when any Housing Authority employee or representative providing service must enter the animal owner’s dwelling to conduct business, provide services or enforce lease terms, etc.
V. Dogs and cats must be identifiable by an identification collar.
W. An animal owner may request a variance on any of the listed requirements. Any variance must be approved prior to the registration of the animal.
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
Each resident must register his/her animal with the Authority BEFORE it is brought onto the premises, and must update the registration annually at the annual re-examination of income.
1Information sufficient to identify the animal,including a picture;
2A certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian or a State or Local Authority empowered to inoculate animals, stating that the animal has received all inoculations required by applicable State and Local Law;
3The name, address, and telephone number of one or more responsible parties who will care for the animal if the animal owner dies, is incapacitated, or is otherwise unable to care for the animal;
4A statement indicating that the animalowner has read the rules and agrees to comply with them;
- The Authority may refuse to register a pet if:
1) The pet is not a common household pet;
2)The keeping of the pet would violate any applicable pet rule;
3)The pet owner fails to provide complete pet registration information;
4)The pet owner fails to update the pet registration annually;
5)The Authority reasonably determines, based on the pet owners' habits and practices and the pet's temperament, that the pet owner will be unable to keep the pet in compliance with the pet rules and other legal obligations;
- The Authority may refuse to register a service animal if:
1)The resident does not fill out all applicable reasonable accommodation paperwork.
2)The parties listed on the paperwork do not fill out all requirements of the forms.
3)The animal(s) being brought into the unit does not match the information listed on the forms provided.
4)Service and comfort animals must follow rules E through V above.
PROTECTION OF THE ANIMAL
Right of Entry: The Animal Owner hereby waives its right to the 24 hour notification clause of the lease and authorizes the Authority to enter the premises at any time to verify care and condition of and for the animal. If the health or safety of an animal is threatened by the death or incapacity of the animal owner, or by other factors that render the animal owner unable to care for the animal, the Authority may:
1Contact the responsible party or parties listed in the registration form and ask that they assume responsibility for the animal.
2The Authority may contact the appropriate State or Local Animal Control Authority, Humane Society or designated agent and request the removal of the animal.
3The Authority may enter the animal owner’s unit, remove the animal, and place the animal in a facility that will provide care and shelter until the animal owner or a representative of the animal owner is able to assume responsibility for the animal, but no longer than thirty (30) days. The cost of the animal care facility provided under this section shall be charged to the animal owner.
Policy Violations:
Residents who violate the above conditions shall be subject to the following actions by the Housing Authority:
a) If an animal cause’s harm to any person, the animal’s owner shall be required topermanently remove the animal from the building within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt of written notice from the Housing Authority. Said animal owner may also be subject totermination of his/her dwelling lease.
b) An animal owner who violates any other conditions of this policy may be required to remove his/her animal from the building within seven (7) days of written notice from the Housing Authority. Said animal owner may also be subject to termination of his/her dwelling lease.
c) If it is determined by the Housing Authority that an animal owner is no longer capable of properly caring for an animal, the Housing Authority may, at its sole discretion, require the animal be removed from the owners’ possession and control.
The Housing Authority’s grievance procedures shall be applicable to all individual grievances or disputes arising out of violations or alleged violations of this policy.
I have reviewed and understand the above regulations and agree to conform to the same and understand that violation of the rules may result in a requirement to permanently remove the pet from the unit or vacate the dwelling.
______
TenantDate
______Housing Authority Representative Date
Housing Authority
Authorization for Animal Ownership Form
Animal Owner's Name: ______
Animal Owner's Address: ______
Home telephone: ______Work Telephone: ______
Animal's Name: ______
Type or Breed: ______
License or ID Number: ______
Veterinarian Utilized: ______
Address: ______Phone: ______
Emergency Caregiver for the Animal: ______
Address: ______Phone: ______
I have read and understand the rules governing animals and I and all members of my household promise to fully comply.
Signature of Owner: ______Date: ______
Approved By: ______Date: ______
Please attach to this form the following:
Picture of the animal
Rabies Certification