Many people love pets, no doubt about it! They consider them part of the family.

Others hate pets -- for various reasons! Nevertheless, pets are parts of our daily lives and we should deal with them in a reasonable manner.

Since living in associations means having rules, these rules should accommodate both sides of the issue -- meaning reasonable rules. And here comes the problem: WHAT IS REASONABLE?

Let's start with original rules: It is unreasonable if a group of owners decides to amend the rules, disallowing pets altogether or putting weight limits on the pets. Many pets in our society have the same problems many humans have: OBESITY! 

Creating weight limits for pets? We are seeing it a lot! Does it make sense? Definitely not! Guess the next step will be that owners will be told that they have to move out because their weight of 350 lbs. overburdens the elevator?   

Fights over the beloved pets create many very emotional -- and costly -- lawsuits. Especially condominiums have to be very careful to avoid violating FAIR HOUSING rules. 

Even if you live in a so-called "no-pet community", there are exemptions to the rule: EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS! If one of the owners brings a letter from a medical professional, any board would be well advised to vote in favor of granting this request -- no matter what the association attorney may advise. Never forget: The attorney doesn't pay the legal fees -- you and your neighbors do!

If a doctor's letter is rejected by a board or the association's lawyer, the owner of the emotional support animal could sue the association for discrimination, with potential fines in the $$thousands! 

But beware: Lawsuits have shown that doctor's are willing to provide these ESA letters just as a courtesy to their patients. Make sure that the person really has some sort of medical disability that really requires an EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL to be present. If the owner claiming to be in need of an ESA is not taking this pet to work (for example) you know that this person doesn't really need an ESA.