90% of the Condo Unit Owners Want a Dog Run

C.S. from New York writes:

Dear Mister Condo,

What qualifies an adult (over 55) condo community to get a dog run. We have 192 units and 90 per cent of unit owners have dogs. Thank you!

Mister Condo replies:

C.S., I am not aware of any rule or law that requires a condo association of any kind to install a dog run. As a fellow dog lover I can relate to the desire to have a safe place to exercise a dog but unless there was a dog run installed as part of the initial condominium, it is quite possible there just isn’t space or desire for the association to build one.

My suggestion is that you speak with fellow unit owners with dogs and draw up a petition for the Board to consider adding a dog run. Depending on the sentiment of the Board and the available resources of the community, the Board would very likely consider your request and grant it the due diligence that it reserves. That may mean speaking with a company that installs dog runs, fences, and such about the cost to install and maintain. That may mean speaking with the association’s attorney and insurer about liabilities posed by adding a dog run. That may mean adding the dog run discussion to a vote amongst the unit owners once these new costs and liabilities are known. Ultimately, it may come down to a vote about who is willing to pay the increased common fees that the dog run will cause. I can think of 10% of unit owners who might not be too keen to spend more money on an amenity they will not use. Be ready to sell those unit owners on how beneficial the dog run will be and how much cleaner and safer the property will be after it is installed. Good luck!