# Vicious Dog in Condo **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 14, 2018, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131 "2018-05-14T14:02:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/41 "2018-05-15T00:30:36Z")
> [@SmellMyWort](#): > > So there’s no penalty or fine if the dog is caught out without its muzzle? I got the letter the lawyer sent and it said that legal action would be taken if they violated the conditions. Another letter will go to them with a deadline to have the dog removed or we will sue them. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/42 "2018-05-15T00:32:41Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > Why do you need the victim to report the incident? You have to do it regardless if the foreman wants to report it or not. If I understand the event correctly, the foreman was working on the HOA’s property and hired by the HOA to perform the work. The HOA would seem to have liability here, as well as the dog owner. The cops and animal control both said the victim had to report it. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/43 "2018-05-15T00:33:44Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > What’s the attitude of the dog owner throughout all this? Does he have an “aw shucks, yeah my dog bites but so what” view? They don’t see the seriousness of the problem at all. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/44 "2018-05-15T00:35:13Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > How would you enforce HOA laws if the guy was found to be breaking some other rule? What if he, say, put a truck up on blocks in the front yard? We would first have the property manager ask them to remove it. IF they refused we would lawyer send a letter. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/45 "2018-05-15T00:37:24Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > This statement might be a problem when you get sued for not taking appropriate action in the first place. I’m not a lawyer, but I think its possible you are setting the organization (and maybe yourself personally?) for a lawsuit for not addressing what was clearly a documented problem. For the protection of the HOA and yourself, you probably should act aggressively now; at least to limit your own appearance of culpability. I agree and we are acting very aggressively now. The owners of the other units are aware of the situation and are being supportive. The mystery still is why the victim refused to report it. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/46 "2018-05-15T13:53:03Z")
> [@Enginerd](#): > > This seems to me to be outside the purview of the HOA. They could prohibit the dog from entering the building or grounds, but I don’t see any way for the HOA to enforce euthanasia. I didn’t mean the HOA should have the dog put down, I meant that the victims should insist authorities have it put down. This hinges on each incident being reported and documented, of course. A dog that bites more than once and an owner that allows it are a potentially deadly combination. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/47 "2018-05-15T14:42:02Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > I didn’t mean the HOA should have the dog put down, I meant that the victims should insist authorities have it put down. This hinges on each incident being reported and documented, of course. A dog that bites more than once and an owner that allows it are a potentially deadly combination. Except the first victim (twice) didn’t report it to the authorities & the current ‘victim’ doesn’t wish to report it either. The authorities don’t know of this animal & therefore won’t take any action. Depending upon the state & the specific HOA rules, you may not be able to enforce removal against a specific dog. “Any dog that has previously bitten \_\_\_ # of dogs/people may no longer reside in the community” is generic & should pass muster, but “your dog, Fido, must be evicted” _may_ not. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/48 "2018-05-15T14:56:58Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Except the first victim (twice) didn’t report it to the authorities & the current ‘victim’ doesn’t wish to report it either. The authorities don’t know of this animal & therefore won’t take any action. > Depending upon the state & the specific HOA rules, you may not be able to enforce removal against a specific dog. “Any dog that has previously bitten \_\_\_ # of dogs/people may no longer reside in the community” is generic & should pass muster, but “your dog, Fido, must be evicted” _may_ not. This is exactly the situation. As far as police are concerned there is no problem because of the lack of reporting. It has to come from the victim, per our state laws. However, our bylaws do have rules about nuisance animals and since the owners did not comply with the rules we set forth after the last attack, we have some options. Just heard the latest victim might be reconsidering reporting it. Hopefully it’s not too late. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/49 "2018-05-15T15:45:28Z")
What is the reason why two victims of a dog attack don’t want to report them? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/50 "2018-05-15T16:24:09Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > What is the reason why two victims of a dog attack don’t want to report them? Maybe the dog’s owner offered cash for their pain? ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/51 "2018-05-15T19:08:14Z")
How about upping security on the grounds? ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/52 "2018-05-15T19:22:05Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > What is the reason why two victims of a dog attack don’t want to report them? The recent one was the foreman of a work crew. I suspect he just wants to finish the job and get out of there and decide what to do. I have no idea really and have not been able to talk him. I am the “victim” of the other major incident. The dog attacked mine but I let them talk me into not reporting it. As a result we made the muzzle rule, which they broke this past week. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/53 "2018-05-15T19:23:08Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Maybe the dog’s owner offered cash for their pain? In my case they paid the vet bills. In the other, I am not sure. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/54 "2018-05-15T19:24:09Z")
> [@HelenGawn](#): > > How about upping security on the grounds? It’s a small complex with less than 20 units. There is no security except a gate. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/55 "2018-05-15T19:27:24Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > There is no security except a gate. and an attack dog! ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/56 "2018-05-15T19:30:12Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > and an attack dog! Good one. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/57 "2018-05-15T20:08:00Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > The recent one was the foreman of a work crew. I suspect he just wants to finish the job and get out of there and decide what to do. I have no idea really and have not been able to talk him. > > I am the “victim” of the other major incident. The dog attacked mine but I let them talk me into not reporting it. As a result we made the muzzle rule, which they broke this past week. I see, thanks. Perhaps you are just too doggone nice? ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/58 "2018-05-15T20:34:21Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > We would first have the property manager ask them to remove it. IF they refused we would lawyer send a letter. And did you do that with the offending dog owners? I mean, presumably the condo board has ways to eject people who break the hoa rules, right? I don’t quite understand why they aren’t working on people whose dog has been banned from the building. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/59 "2018-05-15T20:44:42Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > I am the “victim” of the other major incident. The dog attacked mine but I let them talk me into not reporting it. As a result we made the muzzle rule, which they broke this past week. I can see MAYBE a dog getting a bit rambunctious, but this dog seems to have a pattern of aggression. Considering the owners broke the muzzle rule, that’s another strike. I don’t want them to get a third. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2018, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131/60 "2018-05-16T01:00:29Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I can see MAYBE a dog getting a bit rambunctious, but this dog seems to have a pattern of aggression. Considering the owners broke the muzzle rule, that’s another strike. > > I don’t want them to get a third. The muzzle was the last strike. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vicious-dog-in-condo/814131.md?page=4)