'$1000 per day [fine] if you don't comply': Devoted dog mom of two blindsided by new HOA rules stating ridiculous 'one dog policy', canine community barks back for justice

Author image for Blake Seidel
Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Mar 15, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

Hey there, friends. The more stories we read on the internet, the crazier we think the world is (especially when it comes to dog-related things). Everything is getting more expensive nowadays, even owning a dog! You have to pay for the dog food, the dog walker, vet appointments, training, enrichment, toys….and now, apparently, fees simply to even own more than one dog. We understand having a pet policy if you live in a fancy-shmancy apartment with fancy-shmancy standards, but not for the everyday person.

Enter our dog mom, stage left. She owns an apartment in a complex and her HOA decided to implement a "one dog only" pawlicy, with a, wait for it, $1000 per day fine if the residents do not comply after they get the notice. $1000 per day? That's just beyond ridiculous, if you ask us. Anyway, she was naturally very upset, and turned to the internet for help. Thankfully, the canine community came to her and her puppers' rescue. Scroll down to see the whole thing below!

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  • 01

    My friend's condo voted against residents having more than 1 dog, she has 2..

    'She obviously loves her dogs and refuses to get rid of either...she's freaking out.'
    via johny007pan

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02

    They're threatening $1000/day charges if you don't comply after receiving the notice. (Not kidding)

    [Broward if that helps] My friend has 2 dogs, the first one she's had for several years now and is only like 10 pounds. Her 2nd dog she's had for about a year now, this dog is probably around 30 pounds or more. She obviously loves her dogs and refuses to get rid of either.
    via u/McChickenLargeFries
  • 03
    Apparently her building (in which she owns one of the units), just voted that you are only allowed to have one dog. She says they told her that there will be a $1000/day penalty if you fail to comply after receiving the notice.
    via u/McChickenLargeFries

  • We're not lawyers, but we can't see how this can be legal. If there are any lawyers out there reading this, be sure to go help this dog mom figure out what to do. Who can pawssibly afford $1000 per day?

  • 04
    I don't see how this is in anyway legal?? What can she do about this? This isn't a rich area or anything like that it's just it's just a pretty basic 1 BR condo, so $1000/day is just extremely aggressive and ridiculous and there's no way she could afford even $50/day fines. She's been living there for at least 6-7+ years now.
    via u/McChickenLargeFries
  • 05
    She's freaking out, is devastated right now and doesn't know what to do.. I tried posting a picture of the notice, but it's not uploading..
    via u/McChickenLargeFries
  • 06
    PRESIDENT REPORT E. Air Quality Test The final step will be an air quality test to certify that the building is safe and free of black mold. Time-Sensitive & Mission Critical This work is urgent. Failure to act could result in $1,000 per day in fines and the closure of the Rec Building and pool. South Condominium Pet Policy 1. General Policy . Each unit is allowed to have only one (1) dog at any given time. . The dog must weigh 15 lbs or less at full maturity. 2. Registration & Documentation Dog
    via u/McChickenLargeFries

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  • 07
    Same-Job-330 • 7h ago She needs to speak to an attorney who knows and practices association law.
    via u/Same-Job-330
  • 08
    盒 HOA
    via AndreyPopov

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 09
    It seems not legal. However, even if it is not legal, the association might still proceed to fine her, lien her unit, and foreclose.
    via u/Same-Job-330
  • 10
    She needs to nip this in the bud and have an attorney address it before it becomes a very serious and expensive problem.
    via u/Same-Job-330
  • 11
    ghost_in_a_jar_c137 Grandfather clause?
    via u/ghost_in_a_jar_c137
  • 12
    jagger129 .7h ago I don't think they can enforce that retroactively if the rule wasn't in place when she moved in. Isn't it just for new owners?
    via u/jagger129
  • 13
    If she's really concerned, she can consult an attorney. It's like $100 for an hour consultation. She should bring any forms she has signed when she first moved in. Tell her not to sign anything acknowledging this new rule unless she's spoken to an attorney.
    via u/jagger129
  • 14
    Weird Prior6213 7h ago • Get the dogs designated as emotional support animals and they will be allowed to stay without a fine.
    via u/WeirdPrior6213
  • 15
    forgotwhatisaid2you • 6h ago I believe in Florida they have to grandfather changes to a pet policy. They can also generally only fine $100 per day up to $1000 total.
    via u/forgotwhatisaid2you
  • 16
    Only-Potential-3955 · 6h ago i am not your lawyer. Please check your DMs for the info you need to fight this properly.
    via u/Only-Potential-3955
  • 17
    visitor987 .7h ago FL recently limited HOA fine powers but you have hire a lawyer to enforce your new rights you friend needs to talk with a real estate lawyer A lot of HOA bylaws are often incorrectly amended no idea if this is the case this time.
    via u/visitor987

  • After reading so many HOA horror stories, we don't think we will ever live in a place with one…ever. It just sounds like a nightmare no matter which way you look at it. It's our house, isn't it?

  • 18
    Cheezburger Image 10479165696
    via Good Focused

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 19
    Lost_Chest ⚫6h ago So few things here (used to live in Miami Beach). The $1,000/day is in regards to the air quality test - not pets. That letter is written very poorly, although I'm not surprised. It looks like that is all in reference to the air test,
    via u/Lost_Chest
  • 20
    but she should confirm. HOAS DO reserve the right to update policies, including pet restrictions. Civil policy, HOAS must allow homeowners to keep at least one pet. Unfortunately this is the case. with HOAs. On the other
    via u/Lost_Chest
  • 21
    hand, if the pet is registered or proven to be an ESA, the board cannot reject that pet. HOWEVER - with this case, I'm fairly certain that the grandfather clause would apply here (despite the new rules, she can keep both pets
    via u/Lost_Chest
  • 22
    because it wasn't prohibited at the time she signed/moved in, etc). If there is pushback, you can always open a civil case. Also note that the HOA can't just come to her house and take away her pets.
    via u/Lost_Chest
  • 23
    Mysterious_Help_9577 6h ago Not only that but 15 pounds or less? That's absurd. Get a doctor to sign them as emotional support, they shouldn't even be able to ask why they are ESA. Then throw all their at the doorstep of the Presidents condo
    via u/Mysterious_Help_9577
  • 24
    winterbird · 6h ago I moved out of a condo because of this. I was a renter so I had that option of just leaving the mess behind me. And for as long as I live, that experience will keep me from buying anything in an HOA.
    via u/winterbird
  • 25
    In short, yes, they can do that. With enough pushback from the community, maybe they'll change the rule to leave existing pets grandfathered in. Keep in mind though that after grandfathered pets pass away, she'd be bound by pet limits (or at some point maybe even no pets rules).
    via u/winterbird
  • 26
    Because she's living under an authoritarian association, she'll never know if whatever pet she has is safe. They can at any point vote in a no pets at all rule. As happened with the place where I lived.
    via u/winterbird
  • 27
    For right very now, she should register her dogs as support animals. It is generally approved due to anxiety, so she can state an accompanying anxiety of losing a dog and being suddenly alone, making having two dogs the solution to this additional anxiety issue.
    via u/winterbird
  • 28
    But looking a little further into the future, she should look into if she can afford to sell and buy something that's not HOA. As these associations get more and more assholy, people will start selling ahead of her and then she'll have a harder time selling her condo. The time to think about that is now.
    via u/winterbird

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hoa dogs neighborhood drama fine dog mom neighborhood community canine policy doggos doggo animals rescue
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