Just moved into a no-pet apartment, find out there's a LOUD dog next door

[erikiksaz]

It goes like this:

-found an awesome apartment
-told that there were no pets in the building
-signed the lease
-moved in, noticed loud barking from next door
-see huge dog next door staring right back at me over a 3.5 foot wall
-me = WTF

Apparently it's a "companion animal," which seems like a bunch of malarkey considering it's locked out in the balcony for all daytime hours. It seems that it is quite easy to get a physician's note diagnosing one with something like depression and allowing for a pet to be a "companion animal."

I spoke to others in the building and they hear the dog's incessant barking.

Have we any legal ground to demand our full deposit back since we weren't told about this issue?

 

[dr150]

I'd say you have a case. No harm in trying to get your deposit back. You can always escalate if you have the stomach for it.

 

[mizzou]

You need to deal with management first, have them get you a better apartment, expenses paid. Or, have them break your lease no penalty.

Don't call the police for "Barking Dog" violations until very late in the game, and ONLY if you will go to court as a victim.

 

[Brigandier]

Stance of dominance.

 

[AreaCode707]

Poor miserable doggie.

 

[Newbian]

Companion animal does not mean it's allowed to be a noise issue so even if it's one they can still kick the person out unless they get rid of it if they get reported enough.

 

[_Rick_]

Euthanize it. For its own sake.
End its suffering!




If you're trying to be funny, you missed the mark.

This sort of comment directed against animals is frowned upon here.


esquared
Anandtech Forum Director

 

[Blieb]

This.

You need to deal with management first, have them get you a better apartment, expenses paid. Or, have them break your lease no penalty.

Don't call the police for "Barking Dog" violations until very late in the game, and ONLY if you will go to court as a victim.

 

[Newbian]

Euthanize it. For its own sake.
End its suffering!

Crap in neighbors backyards and blame the dog.

 

[Murloc]

You need to deal with management first, have them get you a better apartment, expenses paid. Or, have them break your lease no penalty.

yeah try this first.
Escalate only if you don't get results.
A barking dog probably violates a bunch of municipal and condominial noise rules, so if the judge dismisses your claims that you were cheated on, you can always go down that route.

Here the commune would come and measure the sound emissions and stuff, to see if the levels are too high for the rest hours. Idk how that works across the pond.

Moral of the story: talk with your future neighbours about potential issues before signing anything, explore the place and spend time there during various hours of the day and listen to ambient noise.

 

[erikiksaz]

Moral of the story: talk with your future neighbours about potential issues before signing anything, explore the place and spend time there during various hours of the day and listen to ambient noise.

This. The problem is that it's a gated community and so we never figured we'd have to resort to sneaky tactics to get into the facility to research the difference between daytime "work" noise and night time "party" noise.

But now we know and will do all that it takes to learn more about the apt before we move in.

Anyways, good news is: they gave us the bigger apt at no cost. We started moving our stuff in on the 14th, even though our official move in date was on the 15th. So, by the end of the 14th when we expressed our frustration, they said they had to wait for the property manager's approval. Seeing this as BS, as the property manager managed to go missing at the right moment, we moved all of our stuff out by the 15th so that we cleared all ties. At that point we were ready to turn in our keys and have them release our lease, but before we had the chance to speak, they said, "good news, you can have the larger apt for the same amount of rent."

Good business practices prevail, yay.

 

[Ichinisan]

Couldn't someone just force the owner to get one of those no-bark shock collars?

 

[unokitty]

It goes like this:

-found an awesome apartment
-told that there were no pets in the building
-signed the lease
-moved in, noticed loud barking from next door
-see huge dog next door staring right back at me over a 3.5 foot wall
-me = WTF

Apparently it's a "companion animal," which seems like a bunch of malarkey considering it's locked out in the balcony for all daytime hours. It seems that it is quite easy to get a physician's note diagnosing one with something like depression and allowing for a pet to be a "companion animal."

I spoke to others in the building and they hear the dog's incessant barking.

Have we any legal ground to demand our full deposit back since we weren't told about this issue?

Fake service dogs: Pet owners exploit ADA loophole

What is the difference between service, therapy, companion, and social/therapy animals?

"According to the Delta Society, a human-services organization dedicated to improving people's health and well-being through positive interactions with animals:

Service animals are legally defined under title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act and are trained to meet the disability-related needs of their handlers who have disabilities.
...
A companion animal is not legally defined, but is accepted as another term for pet (Delta Society, n.d.).

Social/therapy animals have no legal definition. ...."


Difficult to understand how much of a companion an animal locked on an apartment patio can be...

If it bothered me, I'd probably consult with a lawyer that was familiar with local real estate law. Probably worth a little bit of money to know your legal rights in this situation.

Oops. See that you have already resolved the situation. Congratulations!

Best of luck,
Uno

 

[TallBill]

What the fuck? Perscription companion animal? Fucking retarded

 

[Quakester]

Barking dogs need lots of chocolate. Problem solved.




Not one bit funny, even in jest.


esquared
Anandtech Forum Director

 

[Possessed Freak]

Not one bit funny, even in jest.


esquared
Anandtech Forum Director

I found it funny.

[edit]Jokes about killing stray cats... fine. Jokes about killing barking dogs... not fine. I wonder if there are jokes about turtle soup if those are fine.


You find that funny? Then keep it to yourself.

Jokes about killing cats aren't funny either.


esquared
Anandtech Forum Director

 

[Murloc]

Couldn't someone just force the owner to get one of those no-bark shock collars?

that's not humane, but I heard there are similar collars that spray citronella and dogs hate that, anyway I don't think you can force anyone to do that either.

OP it's neat that you got the apartment changed. You did good with that haggling trick.
I remember my parents using this trick in Tunisia when buying a rope of dried chili peppers on the road, the guy of course tried to rip them off and wouldn't budge from a lower but still scammy price. Entering the car and starting the motor was enough to have this guy running behind the car and accepting the final offer. Of course this worked because he probably was a poor farmer and not one of those fake ethnics who scam dozens of gullible londoners every day.

 

[TechBoyJK]

I'd be livid.

I moved into a nice loft apartment complex on Washington Ave. in downtown St. Louis (classiest downtown strip). It was about $1400 per month. About 5 months into my lease they did low income tax credits, and people started moving in for like $350 per month. It went from classy to nasty in like 90 days.

I wasn't impressed paying what would be a payment on a porsche to live in the hood.

 

[bigrash]

I'd be pissed. Hate barking dogs.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I'd be livid.

I moved into a nice loft apartment complex on Washington Ave. in downtown St. Louis (classiest downtown strip). It was about $1400 per month. About 5 months into my lease they did low income tax credits, and people started moving in for like $350 per month. It went from classy to nasty in like 90 days.

I wasn't impressed paying what would be a payment on a porsche to live in the hood.

Look, it has been established by our liberal extremists that lazy people have a RIGHT to live in a nice area.

As a hard working income-producing individual you should appreciate that our dear leader funnels your money into these low-lifes so they can live within walking distance of your mcdonalds, or else you would not be able to buy a bic mac.

Also, see my signature.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Look, it has been established by our liberal extremists that lazy people have a RIGHT to live in a nice area.

As a hard working income-producing individual you should appreciate that our dear leader funnels your money into these low-lifes so they can live within walking distance of your mcdonalds, or else you would not be able to buy a bic mac.

Also, see my signature.

There are no "nice areas" within walking distance of a McDonalds. Just because you work for your hovel, you think you're better than the other trash?

 

[T9D]

I honestly think every single city should have heavy fines for barking dogs. And it should be easy to get something done. Should be a 3 strikes your out rule too. Seems it's a huge hassle to get anything done about it if anything at all can be. And it vary's on the mood of who you call and a lot of times they say their hands are tied. A persons happiness in his own house is far more important. The stress and low quality of life a barking dog causes is unbelievable. A dog is not more important than a human.

 

[BUTCH1]

I honestly think every single city should have heavy fines for barking dogs. And it should be easy to get something done. Should be a 3 strikes your out rule too. Seems it's a huge hassle to get anything done about it if anything at all can be. And it vary's on the mood of who you call and a lot of times they say their hands are tied. A persons happiness in his own house is far more important. The stress and low quality of life a barking dog causes is unbelievable. A dog is not more important than a human.

Some communities have enacted rules about how long a dog can be tied outside and it must have access to water, food and some kind of shelter if it's gong to rain, get cold ect. I can't see the point of owning a dog just to turn it into a barking yard ornament, total assholes IMO..

 

[SpatiallyAware]

There are no "nice areas" within walking distance of a McDonalds. Just because you work for your hovel, you think you're better than the other trash?

Oh absolutely.


The government should never provide a living for anyone which is better than what one could obtain on minimum wage.

We need to start setting up 'council housing' here in the US, not put people in high income apartment loft in the nicest areas of town.

 

[SheHateMe]

I am not sure what you can do about it other than complaining to management. If you spoke to other tenants that were already there before you and they say its been a problem too...then, I bet management already knows about it and they probably don't care.

I would demand my security deposit back and if I found a better place, I'd just ask to be let out of the lease.

I love animals, but I can't stand big dogs or little dogs that bark all fucking day.

...that's why I'm a cat lady