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What's the deal about dogs in apartments? I know that there is a public leash law - but does that apply to apartment building common spaces, like the lobby/hallways etc? Asking cuz my neighbors have some
noisy pitbulls known for chomping on body parts. Occasionally they let 'em run around the hallways and up and down the stairs unleashed.
We can speak from experience that seeing pitbulls roaming unattended can be very unnerving. And it is a violation of the New York City Health Code for an owner to allow his or her dog to be off-leash in a public place. New York City Dog Leash Law states that "a person who owns, possesses or controls a dog shall not permit it to be in any public place or in any open or unfenced area abutting on a public place unless the dog is effectively restrained by a leash or chain not more than six feet long." In addition, we would think that this also falls under the Animal Nuisance Law which says that "a person who owns, possesses or controls a dog, cat or other animal shall not permit the animal to commit a nuisance on a sidewalk of any public place, on a floor, wall, stairway or roof of any public or private premises used in common by the public, or on a fence, wall or stairway of a building abutting on a public place." This may address defecating and urinating in public places, we aren't exactly sure what they mean by "nuisance", but from our experience, roaming pitbulls in our hallway equals dog poop in our hallway.
However, as the police informed us, if the dogs do not actually bite you or cause physical harm (other than making you wet yourself), there is nothing that they can do until someone is injured. You should contact the Department of Health which is responsible for enforcing Leash Laws.
In addition to the Leash and Nuisance laws, here are the other main laws dealing with pets in New York City, and violating them can result in fines up to $2,000.
Dog Licensing Your dog(s) must wear a valid metal tag at all times displaying the license obtained from the New York City Department of Health.
Canine waste law ("pooper scooper law" - section 1310 of New York State public health code) You must clean up after your dog on the street.
Rabies vaccination law (11.66. - Rabies: compulsory vaccination) Any cat or dog you own in New York City over three months of age must be immunized against rabies.
To contact the Health Department call (212) 442-1838. To report an incidence of cruelty to animals call the ASPCA at (212) 876-7700.
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"However, as the police informed us, if the dogs do not actually bite you or cause physical harm (other than making you wet yourself), there is nothing that they can do until someone is injured."
You need to start interviewing different cops, because what you were told is absolute nonsense. Any police officer can issue a citation for an unleashed dog in a public area, at any time under any circumstances. Not to mention reckless endangerment, if it came down to that.
They may not be particularly interested in doing so, but they certainly can.
The police who informed me of this were not part of an interview. They were the ones who responsed to my call after 2 pitbulls who lived downstairs were loose in the hallway and chased me up the stairs to my apartment.
"responded" not responsed. sorry.
Does this apply in NJ as well? My neighbors let their 150+ pound dog run around the sole staicase in my five story walk-up... the dog has never appeared menacing, but I have opened my front door and been startled a few times because he's perched on the stairs staring at me....btw, I weigh less than this dog and I own a 6 pound Yorkie...
I'm a serious dog-lover, but after I watched a pit bull attack his own owner, I have no tolerance for off-leash dogs. I would call your landlord or the police.
christine, sorry you got chased,
here's a tip for next time, keep some hot dogs dipped in anti-freeze in your bag and throw it at them.
Much better than hamburger meat.
I saw a big dog run 50 feet whenever he hears the mailman coming, he would probably rip his face off.
the mailman would just open the office door a crack and throw the day's mail in.
I would not think that the hallway of a residential building qualifies as a "public" space or even a private space used in common with the public.
Definitely check with your landlord to see if there's anything that can be done. My building had a similar problem: owners were letting their dogs run amok through the hallways. One day a dog literally pounced at me as soon as I left my apartment and stepped into the corridor. Many residents complained to the landlord, and action was taken.
This has to be one of my biggest city pet peeves (no pun intended). A lot of dog owners seem to think it's perfectly acceptable to let their animals approach people uninvited, run around unleashed, etc. It's not cute, it's absolutely, incredibly rude.
Grow up people. Live with it. You could be starving in Africa or drowned in New Orleans or trapped in the cultural vacuum of Los Angeles.
When someone is mauled by a pit bull, has to have rabies injections from a dog bite or dies from anaphylactic shock (some people do have life-threatening allergies to dogs)...all because some negligent owner couldn't be bothered to control his pet...will they be living with it then? It's a problem and it should be dealt with.
a woman was killed in san francisco a few years ago, when a neighbor's dog attached her in her apt hallway. so i think you should go with your gut instinct that you're not comfortable, and talk to you landlord or try 311 again.
"Grow up people. Live with it. You could be starving in Africa or drowned in New Orleans or trapped in the cultural vacuum of Los Angeles."
Are you referring to people who have to put up with other people's potentially dangerous pets, or to pet owners who can't bear to have any restrictions whatsoever on Fifi?
Wow - can we throw around the Pit Bull stereotypes a bit more? I don't think these dogs have been vilified quite enough so lets just keep going. ALL BREEDS of dogs are capable of attacking and their are plenty of breeds that are stronger and more dangerous than a Pit Bull.
It is utterly irresponsible for any dog owner of ANY breed to allow their dog to roam the hallways of a building unleashed. Yes, lots of people do it and there are lots of people who don't. I own an American Pit Bull Terrier and she is never, ever off-leash anywhere. She is not dog-aggressive, not human-aggressive and just might lick you to death or bludgeon you with her wagging tail if you get too close to her. Not so humorously, she was attacked by an off-leash raging Jack Russell Terrier in the hallway of our building and injured. She never so much as raised a lip in her own defense. Too bad I can't say the same for my boyfriend who had the unfortunate task of removing the foaming at the mouth 8 pound hellion from our dog's face.
Dogs are dogs and the problem with dogs is they are governed by people and most people are clueless fools. If your building has a problem with off-leash Yorkies, Rottweilers, and Puggles grow up and tell your neighbor politely that it makes you uncomfortable. If that doesn't work write your landlord about it. Just please stop bitching about Pit Bulls.
I still say the hot dogs dipped in prestone is a better solution. Or, vienna sausages in sweet sweet anti freeze. (that's my Homer imitation)
Again, why should WE even have to go up to an owner and tell them their dog is making one uncomfortable???? The owner should know.
No, the problem with dogs is that they are unpredictable and yes, they will rip your face off without warning.
I'm glad the Housing Cops I know will always shoot to kill a dog as they are even more dangerous than criminals in their eyes. Shout out to those guys.
Yes the owner should know but again - MOST PEOPLE ARE CLUELESS FOOLS. If it bothers you say something. If you think the idiot in 4B is going to wake up tomorrow and say "Wow, it's rude of me to have Buffy off leash in the hallway, especially since the smell of perfume makes her angry" then, please, by all means, hold your breath for that.
If you think dogs act without warning you don't know dogs. There are always signs that clueless owners stupidly ignore. There are, however, true dog people out there that know when something is not quite right with their dog.
It's wrong to lump every dog, every dog owner, and every situation into one ball of hate.
Unfortunately, the NYC parks department's illegal policy of encouraging unleashed dogs in public places has opened a Pandora's box of problems. It has been my experience that many dog owners have an attitude of entitlement when it comes to their dog's "freedom". I recommend taking some photographs and, the next time you call the police, show them the evidence. For more information on dog regulations and your rights check out:
http://brooklynparks.blogspot.com
Brooklyn: I have to walk downstairs from the 4th floor to walk my pit bull. My dog is thoroughly obedience trained and I've taught her to walk just behind my heel on the stairs. In the rare event someone shows up in the hallway, I get to show off my dog's excellent sit and stay training and then I put her on leash. In 8 years I've had no complaints from anyone about my dog because she is not permitted to run around the hallways and she is not allowed to annoy people.
My dog remains on leash at all times once we leave the building. Now if only the landlord would do something about the idiot across the street who lets his two big brown mutts run loose up and down in front of the building and won't leash them even when they frighten and annoy strangers on the public sidewalk. That dog owner is just plain rude and selfish.
You are certainly protected by the health codes mentioned above. Take some photographs next time and present to the responding officer. Also ask to file a complaint. Hopefully your neighbors dogs won't get violent (maybe you should carry pepper spray). There's are links to city offices, leash law info and health codes here:
http://brooklynparks.blogspot.com
The simple intimidation and fear that arises from confrontation with unleashed dogs, whether at one's living quarters to within city parks of numerous off leashed dogs, is a deprivation of the quality of life and civil rights imposed by unscrupulous and selfish dogowners upon the weaker ,affected citizens of society who do not own dogs.It is why state and municipal legislatures saw the wisdom from their dutiful debate and dialogue for thier concern to protect the weak -particulalrly children-from unpredictable unleashed dogs who can attack thier victims anytime.I know the fear , because out of nowhere I was attacked by a large dog recently and the owner disappeared when i went to report the attack on me.Therefore, it is utmost that police authorities provide the "teeth" to leashed dog laws to provide order and safety to the majority of citizens affected by dogs running amok.It is simple common sense,not circumvention or dereliction of reason ! recent data say that 4.7 million dog bite cases occurred in the US according to the Center of Disease Control. This is evidence enough for keeping dogs leashed and contained everytime and everywhere.One victim is enough!
Why are dog owning fools allowed to get away with this kind of crap?.
Dogs kill scores and mual thousands here every year. And the media and the dog owners always say " I did not know my dog was going to bite and mutilate that kid". It is very idiotic and tiresome. Over and over again- and nothing is done. I guess political people are scared of the dog lobby. So they let it go on and on.
Don't have a dog unless you can train it and stop it from bothering quiet and decent people.
You have every right to have a dog- you do not have a right to subject others to envirionmental pollution, physical risk or noise pollution.
Animal control is worthless there are very few areas that have laws that make dog owners be responsible.
But the public is getting tired of seeing kids and old ladies killed by dogs, realistic dog laws will be put in place but more people are going to be chewed up and killed before the media and elected offcials will act to make dog owners be responsible.
Despite the hyperbole of those who feel that we're experiencing some kind of dog bite epidemic, the reality is that New York City last year (2005--the last year there's complete records) had a historic low rate of dog bites.
In the late 1960s there were over 40,000 dog bites in NYC. In 2005, there were under 4,000 and only 2.2% of these (86) took place in the 1,700 NYC parks. And paradoxically, dog ownership in NYC is at an all time high.
Hmmmm, why could these historic low bite rates coincide with a record high number of dogs? Could it be that the 1.4 million dogs in NYC are better socialized than ever before due to offleash opportunities, both at the 40 dog parks in the City and because of the successful 20-year policy of Offleash Hours in certain areas of certain NYC parks? You bet.
For accurate information on this topic, visit www.nycoffleash.com
Holla and Happy Thanksgiving. nokia6630
http://www.olathepsc.org/c/opsc/attacks2006.aspx
Here is a site that shows with clarity the horrific carnage unleashed on kids by dogs owned by idiots.
I work in a hospital and I can tell you it is horrible, the dog people always say " It was such a nice dog" The kid is mualed for life. I am tired of seeing it. I am tired of dog owners escaping responsibility when their dogs attack people.
Most dog owners are rude selfish jerks who do not have a clue about how to train a dog. It is a fact that dog attacks on humans are increasing. Most of the victims are women and children. Dog noise pollution torments hundreds of thousands of people daily, they have to sleep to work- but the dog fools will not let them...
Animal control is worthless it is a enabling agency for dog jerks. Here is animal control that would work.
http://www.barkingdogs.net/
People are sick to death of rude non-responsible dog owners that is why the laws are being enacted that require them to act responsibly.
In NYC each Cooperative, Condominium, and free market rental building establishes their own rules. However, virtually every building I know of requires dogs to be leashed within their property limits. NYC Housing Authority rules require dogs to be leashed.
Each building can establish rules to deal with particular needs.
We do NOT advocate dogs being off-leash within buildings for many reasons. Responsible, respectful dog ownership is the key.