Pet Friendly Homes in Boca Raton FL and Pet Restrictions
Here is yet another reason why it's pet-friendly housing in Boca Raton FL can be hard to find.
This recently happened in a gated community that allows two dogs up to 25 lbs. A letter came from the management company and HOA, along with a form, demanding you fill in information regarding your pets. The form had to be returned within two weeks.
The letter asked how many pets you have, what are their breeds and how much do they weigh. Now, there are people whose pets are over 25 lbs - we all know that. We see them walking in the neighborhood. Do they bother anyone? No. There are no "aggressive breeds" in this particular community (that I know of.) The letter went on to say, that if management or the HOA thinks your pet is over the weight limit of 25 lbs, they can immediately call you down for the dog to be weighed in front of them. Seriously?
I have talked extensively about pet friendly homes in Boca Raton FL for years. Please note, when I say Boca Raton, I am including Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Highland Beach, Lake Worth, and the surrounding areas in Palm Beach County and Broward County.
The questions I hear go like this: Who is going to know if I have two cats? They're indoor cats. My dogs look identical - who will know? I'll get a letter from my doctor. My dog is over the weight limit; can I sneak him in? I can say it's my mother's dog who is visiting. My friend told me this condo is pet friendly. I am a breeder and have eight dogs. Eight dogs in a condo? I don't think so! How long do you think it would take the neighbors to know - an hour? The same questions and different questions over and over, and my response is always the same.
The answer is, no one may know and, then again, everyone may know. It's a risk you must be willing to take if you go into a community that is not pet friendly to your pets. You only need one person to know and tell. Your neighbor may just happen to see two cats sitting in your window or hear multiple dogs barking. Maybe they have nothing better to do and maybe they don't like cats and dogs.
What follows is a call to the HOA or the condo association. Now you have a problem. Depending on the association, they can ask you to get rid of one pet (are you really going to do this?) or they may bring legal action against you. Who needs this? While it may be a long shot, I can assure you it has happened.
I had one buyer look at the pet restrictions in a building and say: "They'll give me 5 days to get rid of my dog?!" Then he threw them in the air and we left.
Always, always check the restrictions before buying a pet-friendly condo for sale in Highland Beach FL, Boca Raton, Delray Beach or Boynton Beach. It doesn't matter the city or town. My advice applies to all.
Pet restrictions can and may change from time to time. I've seen it happen where two dogs 25 lbs went to one dog 25 lbs. It was incorrect on the listing and vice versa. From zero dogs to two dogs. It happens. I've seen where management didn't know the correct pet restrictions either! You would think they would, but they didn't.
Don't get caught falling in love with a house or, worse yet, putting down a deposit only to find out your furry friend is not welcome.
If a community does not accept what they term as "aggressive breeds," they will not be accepted. The aggressive breed list has grown over the years, depending on community. I have even seen Great Danes termed as "aggressive." I always thought they were gentle giants! Again, check with the community you are interested in. Some communities will accept German Shepherds; others not. You need to know before you buy the house.
If a community takes one dog less than 20 lbs, they are not going to take two weighing 10 lbs total. It doesn't work that way. If a community accepts two small dogs, they will usually not accept three. I say usually, because there may be exceptions. Multiples are a problem in many communities.
I have no answer for why some attorney wrote the documents this way or why the board voted to change the rules, but rules exist and are in place. And we must follow them.
I have two dogs with a total weight of 16 lbs. I looked into a community that takes one dog 25 lbs. I went to the board president to ask if they would accept them. His answer to me was, "You're a nice lady, but you can't live here."
If someone told me I'd have to get rid of a dog, I wouldn't look in the community or, if I lived there, I would move. But, that's me. Not everyone feels the same, and I respect that. My dogs are part of our family. They go where we go. They bring such joy and happiness to our lives, that it's not even up for discussion.
Knowing what I know, I, personally, would not move to a community that allowed one dog up to 25 lbs, despite my two weighing only 16. It's just asking for trouble.
Regarding service dogs, I'd like to share a recent incident. I was working with a couple who had an autistic child. They had a specially-trained service dog for autistic children - papers and all from a well-known school that trains dogs to work with different disabilities. This dog was not an aggressive breed and weighed 45 lbs. The community we were looking in allowed two dogs up to 35 lbs each. The president of the association tried to dissuade this couple from buying, saying 35 lbs is their max.
The couple decided not to go ahead with the house (not because of the dog.) However, if if they had decided to move forward with the purchase, I wouldn't have wanted to be the president of that association. He was dead wrong and it was confirmed by management company. This wasn't an emotional support dog; this was a true service dog.
When I hear, 'I can get a letter from my doctor', what can I say. That's totally up to you. Some communities will accept them; others have extensive applications to fill out. I've even seen one where they wanted to see papers that the dog graduated school. However, if your dog barks or disturbs a neighbor, rest assured, you will hear about it. Not to mention the looks you may get. Unfortunately, there is no way to stop that if it happens.
Who needs the aggravation? Why do you want it? Why not go to a pet friendly community in Boca Raton FL to begin with? it would make life much easier for you and your beloved pet or pets.
If a community is pet friendly, no one will get upset if your dog barks when the mailman comes by. They will get upset if you don't clean up the poop but, hey, I get upset about that too. Who wants to step in it?
There are many pet friendly communities in Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Highland Beach and the surrounding areas, but pet friendly is a relative term. It may mean one pet under 15 lbs, one pet less than 20 lbs, two pets maximum 25 lbs, two pets 40 lb max, one pet 60 lbs, two pets no weight restrictions but with breed restrictions, or it may mean pet friendly to a bird or cat. Go figure.
Your choices will be limited if you have multiple pets or larger dogs, but they do exist. Yes, there are communities where large dogs, depending on breed, are accepted. And there are communities that will take three dogs.
Please call, text or email me if you're looking for pet-friendly houses or condos in Boca Raton or the surrounding areas. I live and breathe this every day. My passion is dogs! What can I say? I will work with you as a buyer's agent to find a pet-friendly home in a community that fits your needs. Of course, I need to hear the details first!
If you're like me, you love your animals. Don't fall into the trap where someone says, oh, it's ok - and then you find out it's not. I've gotten panic calls the night before closing. Help, I was approved by the condo association but my dog was not. They told me to get rid of one dog. I have three dogs but the community I bought in only allows one (this was after the insepection.) Does 3 lbs of dog really matter?
HAVE A QUESTION? GO ON, ASK ME!
For more information about pet-friendly housing in Boca Raton FL and Boca Raton Real Estate, please contact me. I am a Boca Raton Real Estate Agent and can be reached at (561) 716-7824, by text or by email at Elyse@ElyseBerman.com. Thank you for reading about pet-friendly housing in Boca Raton FL.
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