Laws regarding (potentially) vicious dogs in apartments

[klyxmaster]

What is the name of your state? Minnesota

I have read most of the statutes in MN, but I do not see one specifically for apartments. I am one of the staff members at a few, and there are tenants that feel the need to have a dog in their apartment that deems very dangeous to any one BUT the owner.
If there is an emergency, me and other staff members will be unable to enter, due to foreseen danger.

What laws are there to protect us from this, or to regulate these dogs? Can we "mace" them if we enter due to an emergency? What laws protect us?

 

[PayrollHRGuy]

Who "deemed" them as such?

If you are legally entering an apartment and a dog starts to attack you, you can make them.

 

[Taxing Matters]

First, note that despite the reputation of some breeds it is not the case that you can say a dog is dangerous to people just because of the breed of dog. With that in mind, you cannot attack the dog simply because you fear the breed of the dog. If the dog actually attacks you then of course you may defend yourself.

 

[adjusterjack]

you can make them.

Maybe you should mace them instead.

 

[adjusterjack]

I am one of the staff membe

Why aren't the building owners or management addressing this issue?

 

[quincy]

What is the name of your state? Minnesota

I have read most of the statutes in MN, but I do not see one specifically for apartments. I am one of the staff members at a few, and there are tenants that feel the need to have a dog in their apartment that deems very dangeous to any one BUT the owner.
If there is an emergency, me and other staff members will be unable to enter, due to foreseen danger.

What laws are there to protect us from this, or to regulate these dogs? Can we "mace" them if we enter due to an emergency? What laws protect us?

The leases should include a clause on pets.

We include a clause in all of our leases that says animals are not allowed without written authorization from the landlord and, if the pet is approved, we have a "Pet Addendum" signed by the tenant that details fees and responsibilities.

I know some landlords include "breed exceptions," largely because their insurance excludes certain breeds from coverage. The breeds often excluded by insurers are: Pitbulls, American Stafford Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Rottweilers, Chows, Dobermans, Akitas and any non-domestic breed (like wolf hybrids).

I don't know what you can do about the dog currently inhabiting the rental property except perhaps pray no issues come up where emergency entry is necessary or prepare for a dog attack as best you can.

And get your leases changed. There is nothing that says you have to allow pets, with the exception of service animals.

 

[klyxmaster]

Who "deemed" them as such?

If you are legally entering an apartment and a dog starts to attack you, you can make them.

I do. And others. If you LEGALLY enter an apartment, and the dog attacks - vicious dog. An apartment environment is a community environment. If a dog has to be restrained in that environment, I do not feel it needs to be there. The property is not the tenants.

First, note that despite the reputation of some breeds it is not the case that you can say a dog is dangerous to people just because of the breed of dog. With that in mind, you cannot attack the dog simply because you fear the breed of the dog. If the dog actually attacks you then of course you may defend yourself.

"Breed" never came up in the OP.
The dog will attack without provocation, and therefore they have to cage them or restrain them, however if there is an emergency - how will we(staff) get in since the tenant may not be there to restrain the dog?

 

[klyxmaster]

The leases should include a clause on pets.

We include a clause in all of our leases that says animals are not allowed without written authorization from the landlord and, if the pet is approved, we have a "Pet Addendum" signed by the tenant that details fees and responsibilities.

I know some landlords include "breed exceptions," largely because their insurance excludes certain breeds from coverage. The breeds often excluded by insurers are: Pitbulls, American Stafford Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Rottweilers, Chows, Dobermans, Akitas and any non-domestic breed (like wolf hybrids).

I don't know what you can do about the dog currently inhabiting the rental property except perhaps pray no issues come up where emergency entry is necessary or prepare for a dog attack as best you can.

And get your leases changed. There is nothing that says you have to allow pets, with the exception of service animals.

the complex now accepts dogs. However, I do not believe these dogs are "checked" at the door. Therefore some of them that reside there now with their pet are harboring vicious dogs. Trust me, I know a friendly bark, and there are some units I can enter where to dog licks my face. I am inquiring about the dogs that were allowed, but not checked.

 

[klyxmaster]

Why aren't the building owners or management addressing this issue?

good question...

 

[klyxmaster]

However, these are nice comments, what does the law say about it? Not homes, but apartments?

 

[LdiJ]

However, these are nice comments, what does the law say about it? Not homes, but apartments?

The law may not address the issue, but if it does, it would likely do so at the municipal level. However I can tell you that knowing the breed of a dog does not tell you whether its vicious or not, or whether it has been trained to defend its home against strangers. I have seen chihuahuas that were truly vicious and pit bulls that wouldn't do more than lick you to death. My grandmother once owned a yellow lab that was so vicious that it would attack literally everyone but her. Yes, some breeds tend to have more vicious animals than others, but in my experience its more "nurture" over "nature"

 

[quincy]

However, these are nice comments, what does the law say about it? Not homes, but apartments?

It is the lease that speaks.

If the landlord allows dogs without restriction, the landlord permits vicious dogs and must deal with them.

A landlord can prepare a tenant for a visit by having the tenant lock up or remove the dog. In an emergency, the landlord cannot ignore the emergency. He must handle the presence of the dog in a way that best prevents harm, to landlord and dog.

 

[Zigner]

Trust me, I know a friendly bark...

That makes me laugh. The last dog I had was a small (short) dog with the bark of a huge and vicious rotweiller. He was never a danger to anyone, including intruders.

 

[quincy]

We had a small sheltie-shepherd mix like that. Friendliest dog ever but he had a terrifying bark. Our most vicious dog was our basset hound. He never barked but he bit a clown.

 

[Just Blue]

We had a small sheltie-shepherd mix like that. Friendliest dog ever but he had a terrifying bark. Our most vicious dog was our basset hound. He never barked but he bit a clown.

Can't blame the basset hound. Clowns are creepy.