Jennifer Devane
Junior Member
What is the name of your state? New York
My parents live in a Co-op in Little Neck, N.Y. According to their bi-laws, they are not allowed to own a dog. I visit them often and have brought my dog with me a few times, however, the dog has never stayed over-night in their apartment and he has never been there for longer than a couple of hours. Well, apparently, one of my parent's neighbors told the Board of Directors that my parents own a dog. A maintenace man from the development showed up at their home and asked if they have a dog. Of course my parents said no and even asked the man if he would like to take a look around their apartment to see for himself that they do in fact not own a dog. He declined and a few days later my parents received a letter stating that they have to remove the dog from the premesis within 10 days (Notice to Cure). My parents immediately responded by mail and phone that they do NOT have a dog. However, in the letter that my father wrote to the Board, he stated that while they do not have a dog, their daughter (me) occassionally comes to visit and sometimes brings her dog, but the animal does not stay for a long period of time. Well, they responded by saying that last year the Board sent a notice around the development listing "new" rules and the corresponding fines for breaking each rule. These letters were apparently slipped under each home's door. My parents never received this and therefore certainly never signed for receiving such a note. If they new that a dog could not even visit, they never would have let me bring my dog to their home. My question is: Is it legal for the deveopment to force them to pay $500 for a rule they were never informed of and never signed any revised bi-law amendment? Thank you for your time and consideration. Jennifer
My parents live in a Co-op in Little Neck, N.Y. According to their bi-laws, they are not allowed to own a dog. I visit them often and have brought my dog with me a few times, however, the dog has never stayed over-night in their apartment and he has never been there for longer than a couple of hours. Well, apparently, one of my parent's neighbors told the Board of Directors that my parents own a dog. A maintenace man from the development showed up at their home and asked if they have a dog. Of course my parents said no and even asked the man if he would like to take a look around their apartment to see for himself that they do in fact not own a dog. He declined and a few days later my parents received a letter stating that they have to remove the dog from the premesis within 10 days (Notice to Cure). My parents immediately responded by mail and phone that they do NOT have a dog. However, in the letter that my father wrote to the Board, he stated that while they do not have a dog, their daughter (me) occassionally comes to visit and sometimes brings her dog, but the animal does not stay for a long period of time. Well, they responded by saying that last year the Board sent a notice around the development listing "new" rules and the corresponding fines for breaking each rule. These letters were apparently slipped under each home's door. My parents never received this and therefore certainly never signed for receiving such a note. If they new that a dog could not even visit, they never would have let me bring my dog to their home. My question is: Is it legal for the deveopment to force them to pay $500 for a rule they were never informed of and never signed any revised bi-law amendment? Thank you for your time and consideration. Jennifer
