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Keeping Pets indoor

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Keeping Pets indoor

Postby oiseau777 » Fri Jun 25, 2010 12:34 pm

Any help would be appreciated.

We live in Westchester. We had one cat, for a whole year or two this cat woud go outside at times. The landlord knew this and saw the cat being let out and back in.

Then, we got another cat. So we let both of the cats go outside. The new cat would not go far and would just hang out in the bushes. The landlord did not like to see the cat hanging around so he told us that cats were not allowed outside.

There is a provision in the lease which states that the landlord can change the rules anytime he pleases.

Since the landlord already saw one cat being let out and back in for a year or more, can he change the rules?

Thanks!
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Postby Cranky Tenant » Fri Jun 25, 2010 2:17 pm

What do you mean when you say "outside?" Is this a private garden or terrace, a common area, public sidewalk or somebody else's property?
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Postby oiseau777 » Fri Jun 25, 2010 2:23 pm

Cranky Tenant wrote:What do you mean when you say "outside?" Is this a private garden or terrace, a common area, public sidewalk or somebody else's property?


Well, we live on a nature preserve in the nature center. It is open for business 9 - 5pm everyday except holidays. It is on a remote street and it has a driveway outside our door as well as acres and acres of open space. It is common space that we use daily.

We would sometimes let the cats out after the place is closed or in the very early morning (5AM/6AM) but we always try and get them back in before 9AM.

Thanks!
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Postby Cranky Tenant » Fri Jun 25, 2010 11:51 pm

If it was a private yard or garden where you had exclusive use then you might be entitled to let your cats out whenever you pleased. However, it sounds like this landlord/Nature Preserve is being perfectly reasonable asking you to keep the cats out of the space which is open to the public.

You might also want to keep in mind there have been several stories in the news recently about coyote and other wildlife in Westchester and Northern New Jersey making a meal of house cats and small dogs. Allowing house pets outside, unsupervised, is putting them at risk.

EDIT: Another coyote attack story in the news. This time the victim was a six year old child. http://gothamist.com/2010/06/27/coyotes ... n_west.php
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Postby oiseau777 » Tue Jun 29, 2010 8:04 am

Well, first off, we never let the cats outdoors during business hours. Secondly, there are other cats from nearby houses that wonder around the grounds.

As for coyote attacks, well, we're not too worried. The coyotes don't get too close to the house and the cats don't stray that far from it. Furthermore, we know the risks of letting a cat out door and we are perfectly fine with the consequences, but these have been outdoor cats for 10+ years and one was let outside for a whole year before the landlord decided to change the rules.

I just want to know about the legality of the situation, not if it's reasonable. Can a landlord change or add a policy to the lease if they want?
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