University Townhouses Cooperative
PET POLICY
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  1. A dog/cat must be under reasonable control at all times. Reasonable control is defined as:
    1. Secured by a leash held by the owner or owner's representative;
    2. In the pet-owner's unit;
    3. Staked or within the fenced area outside the member's unit as defined in Section 3 of the Pet Policy;
    4. Outside and off the leash only when under the direct OUTDOOR SUPERVISION of the owner. The pet must always be within the owner's line of sight and immediate area. The owner's primary attention must be focused on the animal, and not on other activities.
  2. All pets must be kept away from Cooperative plantings, members' plantings, playgrounds, the maintenance area, and from other members' units. No animal will be allowed to interfere with mail delivery, utility service, maintenance personnel, or notice distribution. No animal will be allowed to create a nuisance or to harass members or their guests, or other members' restrained pets.
  3. Dog/cat stakes shall be placed in the rear of the unit not further out than the steps. In the case of units with side doors, the chain still may not extend beyond 12 feet of the side wall. If a fence exists, the pet must be confined within. Neither shall the animal be allowed to cross or interfere with a public walkway, parking area, sidewalk, doorway, or with other residents. The animal must be fastened ONLY to a stake. The animal may not be left outside if the owner is not at home or in the immediate area.
  4. All dogs and cats must wear an identification tag stating the owner's current address (Cooperative identification tags are available from the office). All dogs and cats must be vaccinated against rabies and distemper, and dogs must be licensed with the city of Ann Arbor. All new members moving into the Cooperative are encouraged to register pets prior to arrival. Otherwise, a maximum of I 0 days from move-in date will be allowed for registration. In the event that a member obtains a new pet, 10 days will be allowed for registration.

    A $25 FINE WILL BE LEVIED FOR ANY PET FOUND TO BE UNREGISTERED OR UNTAGGED.

  5. If a dog or cat deposits feces beyond its owner's immediate area, the PET OWNER must remove the feces immediately. Failure to do so will be grounds for complaint, and pet nuisance fees will be assessed as set down in Section 9(a). No member may allow his/her dog or cat to deposit waste in the vicinity of another member's townhouse, in playground areas, or near trees or plants. See Section 3 for definition of owner's immediate area.

  6. Every member is responsible for the sanitary condition of his/her interior and immediate exterior unit area whether he/she owns a pet or not. Every pet owner is required to clean his/her immediate unit area of pet feces at least every day. Failure to do so will be grounds for complaint, and pet nuisance fees will be assessed as set down in Section 9(a).

  7. No animal, whether confined inside or outside, will be permitted to create un-reasonable noise.

  8. No animal may be kept in the Cooperative which might, without extreme provocation, attack, charge at, or act in any aggressive or menacing manner toward any member of the Cooperative, their guests, or their restrained pets. Such action, on a first offense alone, is grounds for legal action and possible eviction by University Townhouses under Article 15 of the Occupancy Agreement.

  9. Any loose-running animal may be picked up by Cooperative personnel. Members are encouraged to contact the Co-op office regarding loose pets. If picked up, the following procedures will be followed:
    1. If the animal is registered with the Cooperative and is wearing its identification tag, the owner shall be notified and a first offense warning will be issued.

      Pets will not be kept overnight. If the animal is not claimed by closing time, the Ann Arbor Police Department will be called to transport the animal to the Humane Society of Huron Valley, at which time the Cooperative will no longer be involved. Fees assessed by HSHV will be the responsibility, of the owner. A description of all registered pets transferred to the Humane Society of Huron Valley will be given to the Resale Agent before the animal is removed. Every attempt will be made to reunite the pet with its owner on the first infraction.

      Section 9a of Pet Policy revised April 1996 to read: A second offense within a 24-month period will result in a $25 fee payable to the Cooperative in addition to fees incurred by agencies holding the animal. Each subsequent offense during a 24-month period will incur an additional $!50.00 handling charge, with possible legal action which may result in eviction from the Cooperative. The above fee structure shall be applicable to all pet nuisance complaints.

    2. Owners of loose animals which damage property belonging to the Cooperative and its members, including trees and plantings, will be responsible, in addition to the above fines, for replacement costs of damaged property. Further, if it is necessary to use Cooperative service personnel to capture a loose animal, the owner shall be responsible for payment of that portion of the employee's salary at the current rate.

    3. The Cooperative recognizes the fact that occasionally a pet will accidentally or inadvertently get loose. In such circumstances, the member must report loose/lost animals within one hour to the office or answering service if capture does not appear to be imminent. Likewise, found pets should be reported to the office or answering service to assist the owner of a lost pet in finding said animal. These actions may result in the waiver of penalties.

    4. All unregistered/untagged, loose-running animals will be transferred to the Humane Society. If the owner is identified as a member of the Cooperative, he/she will be liable for the same handling charges as listed in Section (a) above. These charges will be imposed and will be enforced under the conditions agreed to in the Occupancy Agreement. Animals not belonging to members or their guests are unwelcome and will be removed to the Humane Society.

  10. No outside pet houses will be permitted. "Pet doors" are in violation of the pet rules and are an unauthorized structural change to the unit.

    1. An owner of a pet shall provide the pet with adequate care, food, and shelter. Failure to do so may mean intervention by the Humane Society'. Anyone who maliciously injures, mistreats, or abandons his/her own or another's pet will be subject to prosecution under Michigan Law. Members observing such actions should contact the Ann Arbor Police Department immediately to make a formal complaint, as well as the office.

    2. Parents are responsible for the actions of their children. Teasing or deliberate mistreatment of animals will not be tolerated. Pet owners may not be held responsible for the reaction of their pets to direct harassment or provocation in any form.

  11. Each member is responsible for the pets of visitors to his/her unit. All policies set down herein apply to visiting pets. Any member keeping an animal longer than I 0 days on his/her premises must register that pet.

  12. To express concern over indiscriminate, careless breeding and the pet overpopulation problem, IT IS ENCOURAGED THAT ALL INCOMING PETS BE SPAYED/NEUTERED. A national survey revealed that 90 - 95% of abused and unwanted pets are either free or under $50.00.

    The Cooperative bulletin board is to be used only for Lost and Found pet notices and Pet Committee activities. Sale pets and "free pet" announcements will not be allowed.

  13. It is stressed that Cooperative Management will respond to complaints concerning animals which are not in compliance with this policy, and inform the Pet Committee. The Pet Committee and the Board of Directors will conscientiously and judiciously take note of any and all complaints received. Subject to management discretion, COMPLAINTS MAY REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL.

  14. City, State, and Federal Laws prohibiting the keeping of exotic, wild, and/or dangerous animals are hereby incorporated into this policy.
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