Pet Policy
Pet Policy
Approved by Community Petal (the biweekly community meeting)
Updated April, 2013
The following policies apply to pets that are not kept in a tank or terrarium. They cover, for example, birds that sometimes leave their cage, dogs, and cats, but not fish or reptiles kept in their tank.
There is a $250 Pet Deposit per pet (limit 2 per household).
1. Community Petal (CP) can limit the total number of pets on the property.
2. Proposed new pets must apply for residency at a Community Interview where the Residential Approval Panel may approve, deny, or delay the residency of a new pet. Dogs and cats must be introduced to chickens and ducks as part of this process.
3. New residents with pets must request a CP agenda item within 2-weeks of arrival for evaluation of community fit with the pet(s). Caregiver of pet agrees to consult the Facilitator of CP at least 2 days in advance of the next meeting. If CP fails the pet during its evaluation, the animal must leave the property or be kept in a different and satisfactory way with another check-in scheduled for follow-up.
4. All dogs must be leashed when outdoors. The exception is if/when the CP notes reflect otherwise. Owner typically brings the dog to CP and proves it is under voice command at which point the deciding body of CP can allow the dog to go off-leash. There will be an evaluation of the dog being off-leash within 2 weeks or the next CP, at which point the new notes will reflect allowances.
5. No pets allowed in Lodge or community Kitchens. Service animals are not pets.
6. If there are allergy issues in public spaces (including outdoors), CP can choose to bar pets from certain public areas.
7. If pets do not get along, the issue will be addressed as if it were two human residents having a conflict. Normal LV modes of intervention and consequences will be used between the two owners, for a pet is an extension of the owner. Furthermore, all pet problems will be addressed as problems of the owner(s). This includes cruelty toward an animal, which will be treated as cruelty toward a human.
8. All dogs and cats must be spayed or neutered before coming on property.
9. All dogs and cats must have the appropriate inoculations and licenses before residency.
10. If an outdoor cat is caught eating a bird, Community Petal may consent to take actions proposed.
11. Owners must clean up after their animal outdoors. This includes dog poop. Please compost responsibly.
12. If dogs misbehave at social gatherings, they will be asked to leave.
13. All laws for service or other special animals take precedence over this policy.
14. There will be a photo inventory in the Lodge of the name and owner of all cats on property.
15. The number of resident outdoor, free-range domestic cats on the land is limited to seven.
16. The number of resident dogs, large and small, on-leash or off-leash is limited to eight.
17. During nesting season for birds and other small mammals (Mar 1 – Jul 31), all cats (including approved mousers) must be kept indoors or wear a cat bib or a cat ruff while outside. Year-round wearing of the Cat Ruff has been shown to prevent further damage to the eco-system and is highly encouraged by many fellow eco-villagers to reduce the threat to native songbirds.
18. Homemade cat ruffs must include either red or yellow as a primary color and stand 2 inches off the top of the cat’s neck at all times.
19. If a cat ruff/bib is lost, a cat caregiver must reserve a loaner ruff in the lodge by signing one out immediately. Meanwhile the cat caregiver will replace the cat’s ruff by ordering/making a new one to avoid consequences. Cat caregiver must provide proof to the Site Manager of having ordered a replacement within 7 days. The Policy Infraction Resolution Process begins if this is not adhered to.
20. A cat owner whose cat is not wearing a ruff or a bib by March 1st will be fined $20 each month not in compliance. Fines up to $50 may apply for violations of pet policy.
All tenants must agree to and sign the Pet Policy with the Site Manager upon approved residency.
