Sheba is a sweet, mellow dog with impeccable manners. After her foster care period, several people applied to adopt her and we found the perfect fit: a young couple living in a Vancouver condo building who were excited about her potential to be a breed ambassador. They had plans for therapy dog and Canine Good Neighbour certification. The applicants checked in with their landlord about their plans for adoption and received the green light to bring Sheba home.Adjusting to condo living was a snap, and Sheba never put a paw out of place. Her new family loved her, but unfortunately the landlord didn't feel the same way. His small dog reacted aggressively on sight of Sheba, and although Sheba never responded, he felt the new dog was to blame.
Soon the landlord came knocking claiming that their pit bull "made neighbours uncomfortable." Again, Sheba had never been rude to anyone or even barked, but the landlord demanded that she be muzzled while in the building.
Wanting to be good neighbours, the owners complied, although Sheba posed no risk to anyone. Days later the landlord was back saying muzzling wasn't enough and he was still getting complaints. He demanded that they get rid of the dog.
Sheba's owners did a great deal of soul-searching and offered to find new housing, but the landlord was inflexible. He wouldn't allow them to keep the dog, but wouldn't allow them to break their lease either.
The owners didn't have the resources to fight and after making phone calls and exploring their options, they felt their hands were tied. Although they had done everything by the book...although they lived in a city with no breed specific legislation...although there was nothing in their rental agreement about pets...and although their dog hadn't once misbehaved...they risked losing their home and/or money in legal fees.
Luckily Sheba's original foster home was still open, and she returned to a familiar environment where she still awaits her forever home. We know it won't take long because she's such an easy, mellow dog - but that doesn't make this blatant discrimination any easier to take.
How can you make sure this doesn't happen to you?
- Read all pet-related bylaws carefully and obey them. Pit bulls are under more scrutiny than other breeds, so never give a neighbour or landlord a reason to complain.
- If you live in a strata or co-op, get involved with the board and ensure you know about any proposed changes to pet laws. Speak out against any breed specific proposals, and educate your neighbours about effective animal control policies. This page is a great start!
- If you are a renter and unfairly targeted because of your dog's breed, contact the Residential Tenancy Office. You can speak to an Information Officer at no cost to find out your rights, and arrange mediation if needed.
- Consider asking your veterinarian, trainer, or other animal professional to provide letters speaking out against breed specific legislation in general, and about the temperament of your dog in particular.
- Contact us! We can arrange for a certified trainer to provide a temperament assessment of your dog, and provide you with information to take to your landlord or strata.
5 comments:
As long as there is a politician alive,there will never be a pitbull left alive, pitbull plus politician=destruction,hitler plus jew=destruction the world is a dangerous place not because those that do EVIL but those that look on and do nothing-Ghandhi.
This kind of stuff sucks.
I feel for Sheba and her former people. She looked really happy with them.
We recently had a similar thing with my sister-in-laws landlords. She has rented a place in N.Van and was told the dogs were welcome to visit. When they found out the breeds we aren't even allowed on the property.
Sadiegirl
Are you kidding me? They could have gone to tenants tribunal and won and the tribunal would make the landlord cover fees. It sounds like a bit of "bull" they would have had a strong case, since THE LANDLORD OK'D THE DOG to begin with! People get it writing. I would be inclined to say that these people lied somewhere. Maybe they got there friend to pretend to be the landlord or something. Bottom line though,GET IT IN WRITING!!! one more thing, if you are ok with lying a bit to SAVE your dog, Staffordshire terriers look exactly like pits and what breed ignorant person would know the difference between your "champian show dog" and a pitbull? slap a harness back pack on your
dog and bang, he's working! We all get that you shouldn't have to, but sometimes it's just less complications at the moment that help us get through to the actual battle!
This makes me soooo mad!! Why is fear and irrationality always observed over common sense and logic?
We had the same thing happen to us. Landlords turned friends who even saw the dog on the hugabull website we where planning on taking home. Within a month of bringing George home, we got the `the dog goes or you go.' Our friendship broken, we were packing to move out to another place. The weird thing was that we already had a pitbull they were okay with, George just "looked" more pitbull. Unreal...
I too own a pit bull and we live in a condo. People were very quick to judge! It's been 2 years later and some people still don't like her. There is nothing in the by laws about specific breeds we just have a weight restriction. My dog's weight is below the restriction so there is nothing they can do to get me to get rid of her. It's been very uncomfortable at times, but I'm proud to say that I've stuck through all the drama in the building with her... even though it hasn't been easy and since she is reactive to small dogs it can make it even tricker. But good news.... the condo is listed and we're getting a house! Sooo happy for me and my dog :)
Fight for what you believe in!Don't give up your battle ... your home is YOUR home. Common area is just common space and in a day, when I think of the time I'm on common property with my dog, it equals 10 mins a day. 10 mins is a short amount of time for a life time of happiness for a dog and you :)
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