Q: What types of pets are allowed by LPA members, and what are the rules?
A: Section 7.03 of the LPA Rules and Regulations addresses this, stating that no animals or fowl shall be kept or maintained on said lots except customary household pets in reasonable numbers. It also states that household pets must not be allowed to run on other person’s property and must be kept at home on the LPA member’s premises. Pets being walked along streets and roadways or on the golf courses shall be on a leash or under the owner’s control. Any pet wastes shall be immediately removed by the owner or handler of a pet on any property that does not belong to the owner or handlers excepting unmaintained common property.
Q: My neighbor’s dog came out on the road and bit my dog while I was on a walk with it. What responsibility does that dog owner have?
A: Section 7.03 of the LPA Rules and Regulations states that the owner of an animal that has bitten or attacked a person, in addition to reporting the bite or attack to local health or law enforcement officials, must also report a bite or attack to the Lake Panorama Association within ten (10) days of the incident on forms provided by the Association. Failure to report the bite or attack as provided herein shall result in a fine payable by the owner of the animal to the Lake Panorama Association. Fine amounts may be found in LPA’s schedule of fines.
Q: Can that LPA member keep the biting dog?
A: Section 7.03 of the LPA Rules and Regulations states no person shall keep, shelter, or harbor any vicious animal, nor act as temporary custodian for such animal, nor keep, shelter, nor harbor such animal for any other purpose or in any other capacity within the boundaries of Lake Panorama Association. A vicious animal (including, but not limited to dogs) means and includes:
- Any animal that has attacked or bitten a human being.
- Any animal that has attacked or bitten any domestic animal or fowl on two separate occasions during a 12-month period.
- Any animal that, while unmuzzled, unleashed, or without supervision of a person whose verbal commands are obeyed, charges or chases in a terrorizing manner with an apparent attitude of attack any person who is upon property other than that where the animal is kept, sheltered or harbored.
- Any animal that has attacked and killed any domestic animal or fowl.
Also according to the same section, an animal shall not be deemed to be “vicious” if the threat or injury is caused by a person who is assaulting the animal’s owner, committing a willful trespass or tort upon the owner’s premises, or provoking, tormenting, or abusing the animal or can be shown to have done so repeatedly at other times.