Neighbor in apartment violating dog breed restriction and leash laws with pit bull

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
If these breeds are not allowed in the building, and you know these dogs are such breeds, then obviously you can complain formally to the management.

But honestly, the dog you describe sounds perfectly sociable, so personally, I wouldn't be officious just because I can be. The dogs who attack are the ones who are not socialized from a young age, and the ones who are fearful. Nothing you describe suggests the least little hint that this is an unsocial, fearful dog.

Except this is seldom the case in any of the constant pit bull mauls child or innocent person walking by stories. It’s always a sweet family dog that was never aggressive.

That's a lie, to put it mildly. It's what some (not all) owners will say, and it's what the anti-pitt people will play up, to highlight the danger of this breed, but it's simply not true. Any dog who is willing to bite your throat out will have shown you multiple times before that he is not comfortable around humans or in certain situations. But incidents happen because some humans just don't want to read the signs!

What signs are you talking about? If a dog attack me and bite me, it's my fault right? We should all speak dogs' language, right?
This is so stupid and laughable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Are you sure that the German Shepherd (GSD) isn't a service dog?
The Pit definitely wouldn't be a service dog, but the GSD may be.

Service dogs are always allowed to live in housing that otherwise have pet-free policies or breed restrictions, because as service dogs, they go through such extensive & intensive training to become service dog certified.

My GSD is a service dog, but you'd know it as soon as you saw him, as he doesn't act or react like a pet dog would (although, in our home, he's our lovable & loving PET, once he walks out those front doors, he knows he's working & on the clock, so no saying hi to other dogs, no sniffing the grass for an hour, no distractions, period).

Sadly, all your neighbor would have to do is tell the landlord that their GSD is in actuality a service animal, and your landlord would NOT be allowed to ask what their disability is that requires a service dog, nor is the landlord allowed to ask for proof of certification -- it's against ADA laws, and ADA laws are VERY strict.
As such, people will always look to take advantage of them.

So, if your neighbor with the GSD says that it's a service dog (even if it's totally obvious to you that the dog is untrained & undisciplinled, so not really a service dog) your landlord is NEVER allowed to ask for proof or certification, nor what the nature of the disability is... sorry.

Anonymous wrote:

Unfortuantely, this could be true of almost any dog.

I do know someone with a pitbull therapy dog. I believe the same rules apply to a therapy dog (i.e. landlord not allowed to ask about disability or proof of certification). She is in an apt that has a "no dogs" policy.

That's 100% not true -- while service animals are accepted everywhere, and emotional support animals are covered in some states, therapy dogs are NOT, and there are no legally protected statuses for therapy dogs.

Landlords are allowed to make their own mind up about whether to allow a resident to own and live with a therapy dog.

Source: The Therapy Dog Alliance

[Anonymous]

A dog can be off leash and unattended at home and on the balcony
OP is being a nuisance
Park elsewhere if you are afraid of a dog on a balcony!!

Dogs do fine in small homes, provided that the owner walks the dog 2 times a day

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A dog can be off leash and unattended at home and on the balcony
OP is being a nuisance
Park elsewhere if you are afraid of a dog on a balcony!!

Dogs do fine in small homes, provided that the owner walks the dog 2 times a day

Not if the apartment building has rules against that dog breed even being in that apartment at all.

OP should report the owners for the violation.

[Anonymous]

As has already been posted here, there is no Apartment Management company that is going to question an applicant who delivers a letter saying that an animal is an Assistance Animal.

https://ota.dc.gov/release/assistance-and-service-animals-what-tenants-need-know

It does not matter how spurious the management believes that claim is. They will simply file the documentation and let their insurance handle it should there be a problem down the road. Do you really see any management company inviting DC tenant advocacy to question their management policies?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Are you sure that the German Shepherd (GSD) isn't a service dog?
The Pit definitely wouldn't be a service dog, but the GSD may be.

Service dogs are always allowed to live in housing that otherwise have pet-free policies or breed restrictions, because as service dogs, they go through such extensive & intensive training to become service dog certified.

My GSD is a service dog, but you'd know it as soon as you saw him, as he doesn't act or react like a pet dog would (although, in our home, he's our lovable & loving PET, once he walks out those front doors, he knows he's working & on the clock, so no saying hi to other dogs, no sniffing the grass for an hour, no distractions, period).

Sadly, all your neighbor would have to do is tell the landlord that their GSD is in actuality a service animal, and your landlord would NOT be allowed to ask what their disability is that requires a service dog, nor is the landlord allowed to ask for proof of certification -- it's against ADA laws, and ADA laws are VERY strict.
As such, people will always look to take advantage of them.

So, if your neighbor with the GSD says that it's a service dog (even if it's totally obvious to you that the dog is untrained & undisciplinled, so not really a service dog) your landlord is NEVER allowed to ask for proof or certification, nor what the nature of the disability is... sorry.

Anonymous wrote:

Unfortuantely, this could be true of almost any dog.

I do know someone with a pitbull therapy dog. I believe the same rules apply to a therapy dog (i.e. landlord not allowed to ask about disability or proof of certification). She is in an apt that has a "no dogs" policy.

That's 100% not true -- while service animals are accepted everywhere, and emotional support animals are covered in some states, therapy dogs are NOT, and there are no legally protected statuses for therapy dogs.

Landlords are allowed to make their own mind up about whether to allow a resident to own and live with a therapy dog.

Source: The Therapy Dog Alliance

This is correct, because therapy dogs aren't used by the owner for themselves, they bring them to places like hospitals to use at for the benefit of other people.

Thus, I find it very hard to believe that anyone would have a pit for a therapy dog, as therapy dogs are primarily used for children who've experienced trauma & sickness, the elderly and veterans.

If I were the parent or child of someone receiving therapy and my therapist walked in with a pit that I didn't know, I'll admit If have reservations, as the very young & very old are the most vulnerable in a dog attack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Doberman Pinschers were the "bad" dog years ago. There's nothing inherently bad about pit bulls. Just some owners who want them to be aggressive. Sounds like these owners are not that type.

But you should take it up with your apt management team.

Try that bs elsewhere. You are not correct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A dog can be off leash and unattended at home and on the balcony
OP is being a nuisance
Park elsewhere if you are afraid of a dog on a balcony!!

Dogs do fine in small homes, provided that the owner walks the dog 2 times a day

She isn't being a nuisance. The dog can more than likely jump over the railing. It's ground level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
If these breeds are not allowed in the building, and you know these dogs are such breeds, then obviously you can complain formally to the management.

But honestly, the dog you describe sounds perfectly sociable, so personally, I wouldn't be officious just because I can be. The dogs who attack are the ones who are not socialized from a young age, and the ones who are fearful. Nothing you describe suggests the least little hint that this is an unsocial, fearful dog.

Except this is seldom the case in any of the constant pit bull mauls child or innocent person walking by stories. It’s always a sweet family dog that was never aggressive.

That's a lie, to put it mildly. It's what some (not all) owners will say, and it's what the anti-pitt people will play up, to highlight the danger of this breed, but it's simply not true. Any dog who is willing to bite your throat out will have shown you multiple times before that he is not comfortable around humans or in certain situations. But incidents happen because some humans just don't want to read the signs!

Then how do you explain this?

https://people.com/crime/2-children-killed-pit-bull-attack-tennessee-mother-hospitalized/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A dog can be off leash and unattended at home and on the balcony
OP is being a nuisance
Park elsewhere if you are afraid of a dog on a balcony!!

Dogs do fine in small homes, provided that the owner walks the dog 2 times a day

The dog off leash in common areas is a nuisance. Violates leash law. Apartment dwellers get arund breed restrictions by claiming it's a service dog. https://usserviceanimals.org/certification?utm_content=Google;Search;ECD;ServiceDog3;service%20dog;102&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsoD4mpP6_gIVyiKzAB2iKQsHEAAYASAAEgInCPD_BwE

That junk is totally removed from organization like The Seeing Eye and Canine Warrior Connection which do purpose bred in house breeding, puppy raiser volunteers then if the dog is suitable have months long training programs. And some don't pass that.

Not those two organizations but we looked into being a puppy raiser. Guess what? There were breed restrictions on other dogs that could be in our household [personal pets] and dog park activities based on statistical hazard to valuable potential working dogs.

[Anonymous]

report it.