UWS Condo Battleground For Dog Owners Rights

An apartment building on the Upper West Side has turned into a battleground between dog lovers and haters over a set of new restrictive rules, the likes of which haven't been seen since the Reign of Terror. Dog owners at One Lincoln Center, a 43-story condo tower across from Lincoln Center, are appalled at their condo board's attempts to ban certain breeds, and fine them $250 for breaking any of their rules. "There's a rush to impose these Draconian rules. They haven't been thought out. This is a form of prejudice. These people do not like dogs," said resident and dog owner Kevan Cleary.

Angry residents greeted board members last night after a three-hour secret meeting, in which the 10-member board, only one of whom owns a dog, may or may not have voted on the new rules. "It's an autocratic, dictatorial-like decision process," Nick Santino, 45, owner of a Staffordshire terrier, told the Daily News. The News explains that the board wants to:

"Ban certain breeds, including Doberman Pinschers, pit bulls, Rottweilers and Presa Canarios.
"Force residents who have dogs to take the service elevator.
"Set a maximum number of hours (9) a dog can be left alone. If so, the management company can remove the dog.
"Set steep fines ($250) for owners who violate these rules."

And to some residents, this can only be the start of something much worse: "I don't know, what could they say next, a certain age group can't live in this building? One can't have a child? I mean, where does it end, the rules?" resident Miriam Lifschitz-Daube told ABC.

Of course, not all the residents are gathering arms or preparing to storm the condo board just yet. "The building is better off with these rules. Dogs cannot have the run of the place. I applaud the board for having the courage to take up the issue. If these rules bother you, don't get a dog," said John Strupp, 41. "There are dogs bigger than kids in this building. This is about people's well-being," said Gary Hirshberg, 70. But well-being doesn't stop some residents from believing there's a conspiracy: dog owner Al Josephberg thinks that some board members believe "no dogs should be allowed in New York City...The dog haters are running the ship. It's a terrible set of rules."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Ben Yakas in News on September 22, 2010 12:09 PM

Comments [rss]

bashmentgirl

I went to Rome a few years ago. Every dog was leashed and had a muzzle on its mouth. There are leash laws here, but they aren't enforced. All dogs in nyc should have muzzles also.

Regarding the article, condo owners (unlike co-op shareholders) usually have certain rights. It's not fair to create new pet rules for existing tenants. The condo owners should fight this.

FelixtheCat Christine Quinns

Lying bytch. I blocked you from my face page and your firm state. You were not an employee. You are not a lawyer wacko.

youngpro

you block people from firm state?

John L

I usually refuse to get involved in these animal debates here because everyone on here gets CRAZY but I think what this condo board is doing is wrong.

And for the record if EVERY TIME a certain commenter posts you post a demeaning, mean spirited reply attacking him/her then yes I think that qualifies as stalking.

JRod5417

Wow! I feel badly for the people who live in this building. I cannot imagine what it would be like if my condo suddenly adopted these rules. This condo board sounds insane since the logic is so terribly flawed. They are going to ban certain breeds because they are bigger than kids? These are domesticated animals that are probably on leash 99% of the time, not wolves. I'm all for fines if the dogs do something disruptive or damaging to the common spaces, but any rules limiting which ingress and egress to the building and how long you can keep your pet in your apartment is unacceptable.

youngpro

Felix,

What I find amazing is that you will bark at people for buying a purebreed for their large condo but pat yourself on the back for picking up 2 cats to cram into your studio.

Manitoba

Dude/Dudette - Felix can be a little nutty, but you read like a psycho, following him/her around boards and attacking anything he/she says.

Get over it and go outside, smoke a joint, whack off or whatever, but give it a rest. If you think he/she's such a freak, just ignore it already.

Guest

I believe she's fighting fire with fire.

FelixtheCat Christine Quinns

She even created a blog about me and send me suggestive emails on my facebook page. @_@, I'm scared.

youngpro

ah, how quickly you forgot about the numerous emails to my facebook, the posts on my wall, and the calls to the firm's h.r. division (the woman who answered later told me you tried to claim you were my brother and wanted to speak to me...), and the comments on my blog: 'all hoes must die.'

NOW who's passive-aggressive?

youngpro

eh, you actually believe him/her on the 'follow' part? aww, how cute!!!

FelixtheCat Christine Quinns

What's next. Old folks take service elevator because of their old people smell. Why should the dog be treated less?

Angelheaded Hipster

you definitely talk baby-talk to your dog, don't you, buddy?

youngpro

*cats. No dogs. Many, many, many cats.

FelixtheCat Christine Quinns

People have creepy relationships with their children and their kids are more of a nuisance.

Manitoba

Making broad generalizations about kids or pets is stupid either way. There are just as many idiotic pet owners as there are parents, creating ill-behaved pets and kids, both of which suck.

Angelheaded Hipster

miswired people have these creepy relationships with their pets

nicemarmot

Breed bans are always bullshit. Breed has nothing to do with a dog's safety. A properly raised pit bull is less dangerous than a badly raised beagle. But of course, people always want to stereotype because it's easy. Nevermind that I have literally never met a vicious pitbull (or maybe they're just never vicious around me, I'm one of those people dogs love.) Whereas the nastiest dog in my building by far is a Bichon Frise that tries to attack every other dog it sees, and little kids too. It has attacked my very friendly dog on more than one occasion. It bit a kid in the building last month. But oh no, it's the pit bulls you should watch out for!

silver

When you step on dog turds in the hallway you'll change your story quick. Why bother to "walk" the dog outside when you can "walk" the dog in the hallway?

Manitoba

Condo boards are always made up of people with power trips. Why else would they waste their free time, creating rules that really are designed to make life better just for themselves.

What is surprising, though, is that they are anti-dog. In my experience, condo boards are made up of older retied couples with no kids and gay men, all of whom usually own dogs instead of have kids (not making a judgment call either way - just my own observations). Every board I've dealt with is usually very pro-dog as a result (and usually anti-kid).

As for the proposed rules, taking the service elevator may or may not be such a big deal as long as that elevator runs frequently and quickly. Also, no dog should be left alone for 9 hours anyway; that's just cruel in my opinion. If you or a friend/neighbor cannot walk your dog in the middle of the day, or afford a dog-walker, you shouldn't have a dog.

The breed issue, though, is a sticky one. They really should just ban aggressive dogs; there's a poofy 10-lb dog in my building that's a menace, always barking, snapping at kids... of couse, the owner is on the condo board and claims the dog's problems are caused by everyone else. All of the big dogs in the building, though, are really easy-going, except for one semi-aggressive lab.

Seems like the board here should be more open to letting everyone voice their opinions and vote as a building on the whole...