Nuisance Dogs Bill - We need your help!

If you live in a condominium association in Connecticut are you aware that animal control can not remove a dog from the property unless it has bitten someone or was hit by a vehicle?

CAI-CT has been trying unsuccessfully to get this bill to the floor in Hartford.  Our elected officials feel we simply do not care about this issue.  Please take a minute to email your state senitor and state representative letting them know that this issue is important to you as an association. 

It is especially important that you contact the following people as soon as possible to ask them to take action on this issue: 

Sen. Edward Meyer 860-240-8600 email: meyer@senatedems.ct.gov and/or Rep. Richard Roy 860-240-8585 email: Ricard.roy@cga.ct.gov

 

Issue:  Nuisance Dogs on Community Association Property

 

Summary

 

To enable animal control officers to impound roaming animals which are on community association property.

 

 

CAI-CT supports legislation on this issue.

 

The Community Associations Institute – CT (CAI-CT) is the educational and technical assistance entity for community associations and their service providers in Connecticut.  We need you to be aware about how  proposed legislation will affect the more than 3,900 common interest communities in Connecticut, and the hundreds of thousands of people who live in them.

 

Statement

 

CAI-CT supports legislation that would provide authority for animal control officers to impound the dog of a resident of a condominium association.  Many of our associations have experienced the problem of roaming animals, but in some cases, animal control officers have stated that they do not have the authority to go onto private community association property.  In several instances, vicious dogs have terrorized communities because animal control officials have felt they did not have the authority to provide assistance.   Proposed legislation would allow for enhanced public safety in all communities.

 

Purpose of the legislation.

 

The provisions of Chapter 435 of the Connecticut General Statutes were not drafted in a way that fully addresses problems of animals on the common elements of a common interest community.

 

For example, Section 22-364 provides that dog owners may not allow their dogs to roam “upon land of another.” Section 22-232 empowers animal control officers to impound dogs that are roaming in violation of Section 22-364. In 1975, the Connecticut Attorney General issued an opinion in which he concluded that animal control officers have no authority to impound the dog of a resident or unit owner of a condominium that is roaming loose on the common elements, because the unit owner shares an ownership interest in the common elements.

 

While this conclusion is technically correct, the result is contrary to public safety, and illustrates how Chapter 435 does not take into consideration animals in common interest communities.

 

Conclusion

CAI-CT believes that an amendment to Chapter 435 C.G.S. will benefit the safety of all of our communities.  If we can be of any further assistance, please contact our Executive Director, Kim McClain, at 860-633-5692.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Community Associations Institute – CT provides education and advocacy for the board members, unit owners and service providers of common interest communities.

 

We are greatly concerned about the issue of roaming dogs on association property and animal control officers currently limited authority to deal with such animals.

 

Attached you will find:

 

1 – A brief summary of our position;

 

2 – Language proposed in 2007 changing the statute;

 

3 - Full explanation of the amendments which we support – from 2008.

 

 

Please contact me at 860-633-5692 if you have any questions.

 

Thank you!