Sneaking pets into co-op

The Coop can serve you with a notice terminating your lease if you dont get rid of
your cats. Ynder your lease you will almost certainlyu have to pay all if its legal
fees if it takes you to court. In addition, your failure to disclose is per se fraud
and would entitle the Coop to rescind its consent to your purchase.

Very imprudent and risky on your part. Vetter to disclose and be honest/

It's a building to building thing: perhaps you should post the building and people here will tell you "oh, yeah, I know TONS of people with cats in that building (I know it used to be that way at Stewart House).

But remember, you're going to live a life of sneaking the cats(s) in and out more than once (like every time you go to the vet) as well as sneaking in your deliveries of cat food, litter, etc. as well as disposing of the "evidence".

and being dishonest about that would always make them wonder what else you have been dishonest about. is that how you really want to start off??
disclose it...
and do you really think the seller would tell you anything different?
and really, why would you post such a question to the world?

Kingsview Homes in Fort Greene.

I've noticed that for some reason discussions on SE seem to get nasty pretty quickly. It's unfortunate since it's such a great way to share information and help others.

I lived a long time in a building that did not allow pets with a dog. I walked my dog 2 times every day right in front of the building and nothing ever happened to me. This was in co-op village on the LES.

30yrs_RE_20_in_REO is right. You may be in the building, but you are going to have to tip toe around the fact that you have a cat. If it meows while you are gone, or the super needs to access your apartment for a repair, the jig will be up. And ultimately, you could either have to give up your cats or have the board take some serious action against you.

I typically don't say anything about other brokers, but in this case, if the building is not pet friendly, that is the final word. This broker is not looking out for you if he is telling you, blatantly, to lie to the board.

hermie. we are a;; trying to help...
you will be starting a new relationship with a lie. in my book it's never a good thing. it may work, but the downside is HUGE, either the cars go or the board takes action. anyone who would give advise to lie is not looking out for your best interest...

I once made an offer for a coop where the seller's broker assured me that "no pets" really meant "no dogs." I said: "In that case, there should be no issue if I specify in my board package that I have cats, right?" The broker got clarification real quick when she figured out I was not going to avoid mentioning the issue to the board. (In that case the clarification was "cats are generally acceptable.")

I would never want to lie and have to be paranoid that the cats were going to become an issue someday.

is this like being married but telling people (dates) you are single?

Thanks all.
RE2009, I wasn't questioning whether the other comments were meant to help- I was just referring to your unnecessarily negative response.

As someone who works with cat adoption, unless you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the policy is widely and openly flaunted (such as Sty Town/PVC before they officially went "pet friendly") you should NOT purchase an apartment based on "don't ask, don't tell" about your cats. You could be made to give up your cats or sell your apartment under duress. Unfortunately, the system is overloaded with cats for adoption and chances that they will be able to placed in a good no-kill situation are just not good. Hopefully that NOT a risk you would be willing to take.

When I was looking for an apartment to buy, I had no problem finding cat cat friendly options....in fact I would say the majority of buildings in New York are pet friendly (more problems with apartments in private houses). Please for the sake of your four legged family members, find another apartment to love.

most apartments that brokers say are no pets are actually no dogs. Cats are allowed. Brokers make shit up to try to ease the process. they want nothing to harm the process so they would rather you lie and deal with the consequences after they get their fee. cynical -- but based on actual experience.

Don't believe the brokers, they are mostly liars.
Especially the Prudential Douglas Elliman's.

"I have cats but the seller and his broker assured me it would be no problem to lie to the board (say I have no pets) and then sneak them in - that the board would never find out/care."

LOLOLOLOLOL!!!!

I just love when sellers and agents speak on MY behalf, as a board member. Particularly when it's WRONG.

*****

("Once you're in, you're in.")

Hardly.

Violate the terms of your proprietary lease and guess what? You're OUT.

While a board can have "selective" enforcement, all it takes is one miserable person to complain and you will be told to get rid of your cats (or sell/move). I wouldn't risk it...

Skip the building. If you are a pet owner and buy in a "no-pet" building, you are buying into a community of people who don't think like you (they are just not pet people). Remember, these people all agreed (at least on paper) never to own a pet while living there. Go find a truly "pet friendly" building; there are plent of them. Also, (and this is personal) I think strict "no pet" buildings are a tougher sell. And as long as we are on the subject - a broker pet peeve of mine - listing that doesn't mention pet policy - especially in open house ad, and you get there and they tell you "sorry, no dogs" then they act stunned when you walk out.

As a broker and a pet owner (2 cats) I would not risk moving into a building unless it was clear that pets were allowed. That said there have been some test cases that have made it difficult to simply evict you and your pet.
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/13/realestate/your-home-key-ruling-regarding-no-pet-law.html?pagewanted=1

First, don't lie about your cats. As lizyank states, there are no real good outcomes for you or your cat(s).

Second, I don't understand why a co-op would have restrictions against cats - unless they are afraid that some owner will let their apartment go to pot with a bunch of cats in it. But then again, if someone lets cats pee all over and destroy their apartment, they are probably just as likely to eventually destroy it on their own.

I would like to hear the arguments AGAINST allowing cats.

Third, why not find a place that is pet/cat friendly? There are plenty of places in the city that accept cats.

Again, don't try to sneak your pet in and good luck!

our firm once sold an apartment in a "no dog" building when the buyer went for the interview the Board member had a dog. The buyer asked, I thought dogs weren't allowed? Board member replied "oh my dog was grand-fathered by my cat" :)

"Second, I don't understand why a co-op would have restrictions against cats - unless they are afraid that some owner will let their apartment go to pot with a bunch of cats in it."

For many boards, it's the "slippery slope" argument. It's easier to have a blanket "no pets" policy than it is to have to deal with case-by-case exceptions from dog owners who believe THEIR little "Fido" or "Spot" isn't like any of the OTHER dogs, and actually behaves more like a cat: "But my Fi-Fi is smaller than most cats!" "My Snookums doesn't bark!" Blah blah blah.

Then of course there are those tenants who really try to push the envelope with pet reptiles, rodents, dangerous arachnids, and even (in one case that I've heard of) a monkey.

SO much easier to just say "no pets", period.

Ok, I have been convinced that it is not worth it to lie to the board (and don’t worry, I would never give up my cats). So the question is whether I will be immediately rejected if I disclose the cats, or if it’s possible they will be lenient (have heard from many that some boards don’t enforce the no pets rule)—basically—is it worth it to continue to pursue this, or should I just walk away. I don’t have a broker, but I am thinking I should ask my attorney to investigate for me. Any thoughts on that?

Amazing, it's news that a broker fudged the truth to close a deal. Shocking.

If you really want the apartment ask your attorney to amend the contract to allow the sale only if your cats are allowed to occupy the apartment. You could also include the cats in your board package and if they reject you you don't lose your deposit. But if they do accept you, you need a ruling from an re attorney as to whether that consitutes acceptances of the cats.

Otherwise, walk...there are a lot of cat friendly buildings everywhere in NYC.

I would just walk. Why spend the time, energy and money to prepare a board package when you already have a major strike against you --pets. Even if you went ahead and the board made an exception, they are going to have to change the co op rules if you are truly going to be protected which will delay your closing. I agree with smac -- there are always a few disagreeable people in a co op and if they choose to make your life miserable they will.

At the very least, I would knock some serious money off the price -- seller and broker gave bad advice and you need to consult a lawyer,etc.

Easier just to walk. There are plenty of apts. Very few pets as special as yours.

Walk. Find a pet friendly building. It's not just a matter of getting in there and getting caught. Its liking the people who live around you. Read NYC Matt's comments above - explains why you want a pet friendly building if you are a pet owner.

you can put the pets right into the contract. i was in a coop that had a "no pet" policy. there was a person with 2 cats who was purchasing and she put the pets right into it. she closed with no problems. when i moved in, i did not say anything. a week later my cat was on the adjacent balcony (board member's) and nothing happened. since then (2003) i know of at least 8 people who moved in with cats who did not notify the board and nothing happened. it all depends on the building.

as someone said, it is much easier to have a "no pet" policy then having a "no dog" policy.

"Violate the terms of your proprietary lease and guess what? You're OUT."

Co-ops don't kick people out over minor violations of the rules. In my experience, you would have to be running a brothel in your apt. to get thrown out. And a board would be foolish to force someone to sell over a minor breach because if you force them into a firesale, they will destroy property values. If Matt (or any board member) did something like this and I was a shreholder, they would need armed body guards to protect themself from me.

"Violate the terms of your proprietary lease and guess what? You're OUT."

Co-ops don't kick people out over minor violations of the rules. In my experience, you would have to be running a brothel in your apt. to get thrown out. And a board would be foolish to force someone to sell over a minor breach because if you force them into a firesale, they will destroy property values. If Matt (or any board member) did something like this and I was a shreholder, they would need armed body guards to protect themself from me.

if you have any problems, you can contact Karen Copeland Esq. we had people with dogs for which the board brought suit against the shareholders. in all 4-5 instances, the shareholders used her and won their cases in keeping their animals (one of them being a rottwiller).

@lizyank - BIG kudos to you for working with cat adoption. I adopted my girl from Bide-a-wee right after 9/11, and it was the best decision I ever made. She's my angel... not sure what I'd do without her. And now on to complain / gripe ;) .. what is up with people who move into a building that doesn't allow dogs but then go on a crusade to try and get the building to reverse its' no dogs policy. This is happening right now in a building of a friend. I mean.. the person bought knowing that it was a no dogs building, but is now actively trying to get the building to change its' policy.

why go thru this puerile malarkey - don't buy there if you must have your cat with you. why does everyone in this city absolutely have to fit that square peg into the round hole and get the last word/their way. it's exhausting.

"For many boards, it's the "slippery slope" argument. It's easier to have a blanket "no pets" policy than it is to have to deal with case-by-case exceptions from dog owners who believe THEIR little "Fido" or "Spot" isn't like any of the OTHER dogs, and actually behaves more like a cat: "But my Fi-Fi is smaller than most cats!" "My Snookums doesn't bark!" Blah blah blah."

I once had a buyer tell me that they wanted this apartment in a "no dogs" building, giving similar excuses as Matt lists above. My answer was "Bring it to the Board interview. If it goes "meow", they will probably let you in".

> ("Once you're in, you're in.")

Its a lie.

The law says that the landlord only gives up the right to kick you out IF they knew about it for 3 (I think its 3) months.

"if you have any problems, you can contact Karen Copeland Esq. we had people with dogs for which the board brought suit against the shareholders. in all 4-5 instances, the shareholders used her and won their cases in keeping their animals (one of them being a rottwiller)."

Thank god for people such as this... who do the world a great service by making sure people can totally violate the rules they agreed to, and going against the wishes of all their neighbors.

Congrats, you are an a**hole!

the reality being that there are plenty of board members in no pet buildings with.... pets. dogs cats kids, etc.... then they decide to push the rules that they don't follow onto others. a little payback is in order.

Thats not payback, thats two wrongs not making a right.

The non pet owners have to suffer for folks not following rules.

If they want to pay back the board, vote 'em out or drop their dog poop on their front doors.

My old building banned washer/dryers but many people had them, including at least two board members. (One apartment is currently listed and the advertise the washer/dryer_.

Ab...I'm sure you don't want a lecture but cats on balconies, yours or anyone else's, It is an invitation to astronomical vet bills--and thats, the BEST possible outcome. More likely is heartbreak for all involved. Cats should be strictly indoor, even if they sometimes think otherwise. End of lecture.

I was once looking at apartment I liked but my broker didn't think was a good value (not in NYC), she was trying very hard to make me not fall in love when I mentioned that the windowsills needed to widened for my cat. The selling broker said "Oh we don't allow cats in the building." I said, "X Hundred Thousand of my money comes with a cat attached. This conversation is over."

Maybe the strong negative reaction is because you ask if you should lie and intentionally break a rule. It's not as if you asked where to buy the best refrigerator freezer.
There is a reason there is a no pet rule, find a place that allows pets. Suppose i live next to you and i am violently allergic, and what if you get caught and have to get rid of the cats?? How easy do you think that will happen

Thanks again all for input. The reason I'm reluctant to walk away is that this is one of the few places that I've found that fits a lot of other criteria that I'm looking for. But of course I'm not willing to risk my (rescued!) cats for this.

Bubbles, just reminding you that it was the broker and seller who suggested that I lie, not my idea. And the fact is that I didn't just blindly go along with it-- I wrote a post on SE to get advice from others who have more experience than I do in NYC real estate and could advise me on the validity of what they said. It is said again and again on here that buying housing in NYC is different than anywhere else. Other people on here have given me some really good information and ideas that I will use. I think the real reason for the strong reaction is that it's really easy to be snarky when it's anonymous. Hopefully I'll never live next door to you and won't have to find out about your allergies.

And hopefully i will not have to live next to someone who has to ask a group of anonymous strangers if it's to lie.

do you know how many times a day the average person "lies"? whether it's exaggeration, obfuscation or outright deception?

not saying it's right, but bubbles likely you live next to numerous people who don't bother to ask anyone if it's ok to lie.

I'm with the "follow-the-rules" team. I am extremely tired of neighbors who think the rules don't apply to them. Why do some buildings have a no-pet policy? Some people have severe allergies and prefer living in a no-pet building. I love dogs and cats and live in a condo that permits both. However, there are condo/co-op owners who don't want to deal with the urine smells, soiled rugs, accidents and barking that go along with some dogs. For the record, I would love to have NYCMatt as a board member--a trustee that actually believes in applying co-op/condominium rules. I was asked to resign from a board because (stupid me) I believed in applying the rules (i.e., people paying their condo fees on time, not having the condo being charged late fees because its bills weren't being paid on time, not having the developer use the condominium's utilities for his restaurant, etc.). One of the new board members stated that board membership should be "fun".

While a board member of a condo which had a two-pet policy, a potential purchaser asked for permission to have three cats. Myself and the other two board members did not have a problem with this. However, I received a three paragraph e-mail from the wife of a board member stating that we should not make a habit of agreeing to this since numerous studies had shown that cat dander lasts for x number of years, sticks on surfaces for y number of years, etc., etc, etc....So pets are a sensitive topic in apartment buildings--your neighbors' expectations should be respected.

Also, it is never a good idea to listen exclusively to a broker for advice when making a real estate purchase. They have a fiduciary responsibility to the seller NOT you. Any information they give you that you consider important should be verified independently. If they provide an answer to a question that you consider essential, get it in writing and include it in your sales contract. Here are some of my past experiences with brokers to illustrate how aggressive they can be:

1) One of my classmates was a broker. I mentioned to her that I was interested in looking at apartments. She didn't give me a card or contact information nor did she suggest that I contact her in the future. Several months later, I looked at an apartment with a broker who happened to be from the same firm she worked at. All of a sudden I was her client and she was demanding part of the broker fee.

2) I looked at an apartment where there was a small area of chipped paint near a window. I asked the broker about this. She responded that the building's roof needed to be fixed. Wrong! After I purchased the condo (my first) and moved in, mold started growing around the windows after a few rainstorms. The condo's brickwork was not constructed correctly (no weep holes), needed repointing AND the roof needed to be replaced. Turned out that all the units in that particular line had the same problem and it had been going on at least 10 years. It should be noted that the broker had recommended the home inspector I hired and the inspector took the brokers' word regarding the chipped paint. Lesson here: do not hire a home inspector recommended by a broker and if you see any damage in an apartment, have the seller explain the reason in writing.

3) I was a board member at a condo where the real estate broker who worked for the condo's developer decided to have a party for brokers on the roof deck without notifying the board (who cares if there may have been a scheduling conflict). I wrote her an email requesting that she inform the board the next time she wanted to use the roof deck for a party. Note that the condo had been independent from the developer for about 2 years and all the units were owner-occupied. Well I guess she complained to her friend, the same woman who wrote to me about the perils of cat dander. I was accused of impeding condo sales in the building. I had to inform both of them that the roof deck had just been stained and the stain needed two days to cure. Since the broker did not live in the building, obviously she did not get the notice regarding the deck being stained. Because of her party, a portion of the deck had to be stained again--at the condo's expense!

So my advice with brokers is to trust, but verify.

wavedeva - can you let me know the buildings you were a board member on so I know never to look there? Guess its the difference between "allows pets" and "pet firendly." Atomic life of cat dander; my God.

I had a cat for years...
I was even on the co-op board. I would hide her in the bedroom during meetings. Everyone sort of new, but they really only didn't want dogs.. One day this old bitch says.. I thought I heard a cat crying in your apt. I explained, no it was my newborn nephew.. When the cat got old.. I would sneak her out in a duffle bag for doctors visits and leave through a basement garage door!!! It can be done.. when I needed work done. I sent her to a neighbor friend, and the staff had free roam.. so they were safe. They could always explain. I was in that apartment 2 months ago, in every room and she didn't have a cat.. If you go the sneak route make sure you do this so nobody ever suspects!!! I have finally left, and the poor thing died!!

"If you really want the apartment ask your attorney to amend the contract to allow the sale only if your cats are allowed to occupy the apartment."

Prepare yourself, then, for an automatic rejection by the board.

I was in a co-op for about 6 years. No pets allowed. Saw one of the neighbors (not on my floor) cats when I was going to do laundry, and I think I knew whose apartment it belonged to and definitely the cat was newer than the owner, so I actually captured the cat and got rid of it. Hate people who break the rules and impact me. Actually managed to get two owners who had washer/dryers to get rid of them too.

In all my decades and decades and decades of living in NY, I've never heard of a building that prohibits cats. Well, maybe that really stupid orange kind, but otherwise no.

Cats are dirty scavengers, why should people live with these animals.

"One day this old bitch says.. I thought I heard a cat crying in your apt. I explained, no it was my newborn nephew.. "

Let me get this straight... YOU are the lying a**hole and SHE is the bitch?

hypocrisy...

"1) One of my classmates was a broker. I mentioned to her that I was interested in looking at apartments. She didn't give me a card or contact information nor did she suggest that I contact her in the future. Several months later, I looked at an apartment with a broker who happened to be from the same firm she worked at. All of a sudden I was her client and she was demanding part of the broker fee."

more broker scum... amazing.

These things really get my goat. The cats, the people who won't put the carpet down, the grandfathered washer/dryers that aren't really grandfathered just been there in violation a long time, people who don't tip at Christmas raising the burden for the rest of us. It's a co-op and people should act accordingly. It isn't for everyone I agree but if it isn't for you then you should sell and move.

Brokers are just as bad as any other NYer, that lady who cuts you off when driving, the guy who bumps you on the subway, the neighbor you don't get along with, the board and management company that you fight with, the strange overnight doorman, the contractor who won't return your call, the dry cleaner who srinks your blouse, the ex, the bartender who ignores you, the guy hogging all the seats, the greedy guy on wall street, the asshole lawyer, the huge ego society people, everyone.

Bgrfrank you acted despicably and potentially criminally when your found your neighbor's cat and "got rid of it". Yes, rules are rules are should not be broken but does this violation deserve the death penalty with no effort to find another solution. Perhaps if your neighbor had been given a deadline, she could have found a an alternate home for her cat with a friend/relative/colleague or through a no-kill rescue group. You may not care for cats but for many of us they are beloved members of the family. I hope that no one ever treats someone you love the way you treated your neighbor's cat...but karma has a way.

not all evils are equal.

"people who don't tip at Christmas raising the burden for the rest of us"

What "burden" would that be?

Is your building staff not getting regular salaries?

"wavedeva - can you let me know the buildings you were a board member on so I know never to look there? Guess its the difference between "allows pets" and "pet friendly." Atomic life of cat dander; my God."...

@calnver - No worries, the condo was in Boston. I've only been a board member once--that was enough. My favorite part was walking through an inch of water with a plumber when the boiler room flooded and water was raining down on the Penthouse unit below. In the wee hours of the morning, of course.

karma?

When do those people killed by Hitler, Stalin, Hussein, bin Laden, Dahmer, Bundy, etc. get karma back?

bgrfrank- What is the rule in your co-op for when someone breaks a rule? Is it to report it to the board for them to act on? Or is it to take care of it yourself, even if it involves stealing someone else's property? (I don't agree with it, but pets are legally considered property.) I'm curious how you got rid of the washer/dryer-- did you break into your neighbor's apartment and physically remove it?

lizyank is absolutely right about how you acted.

bgrfrank... holly cr-p you need some serious help, starting with anger management. while wrong to have a cat you don't "get ride of it" , what if she was watching the cat for someone for the afternoon. And if it was her cat give her a chance to find it a home, What did you do with it??
as for you other posts, you have serious issues.

Hermie, lizyank wants karma to deal with all of the world's problems, which isn't working out too well for the unemployed, or sexual slaves, or people facing genocide in Africa, etc.
But your logic is that someone is breaking the rules, so as a reward the Board of the co-op should meet at its next regular meeting in a month and grant that person additional time to live in the building with a prohibited animal. Nice. Meanwhile in that period of time the owner figures out a new surreptitious way to keep the cat, and probablyu just ensures that the cat doesn't wander out, which is the only way it was caught to begin with. Problem not solved.
As for the property question, well it would be hard to say that it was actually anyone's property, right, since after all no one in the building was permitted to have it. See the problem for the "owner"?

Washer / Dryer, no, I did not break in. I also didn't break in and take the cat, it was in the public areas (another argument against it being someone's property). In that instance I did deal with the co-op board and threatened an audit on our water bills as well as our annual plumbing costs. Since no one on the board was around long enough to have had a washer / dryer on their own, they were sympathetic.

Ultimately because of misbehavior by people like this, co-op living isn't ideal and I'm now happy in a two family brownstone.

Midtowngal, what other posts are you referring to?

hey brgfrank you forgot Pol Pot and a few Rwandans....and if that if the company you see yourself in, you've said nothing on this board to make us dispute it.

Lizyank, so you liken a cat to all of the people killed by Pol Pot?

I'm merely saying you are meek, weak of will, and generally feeble minded because you believe some karma cat ot the tooth fairy is here to save the world.

Why didnt you say karma would have dealt with that cat owner for breaking the rules?

I'd live with cats a lot sooner than I'd live near an apartment with a filthy, screaming, smelly baby. Cats are very clean and usually pretty quiet. I won't even look at an apartment if I see a crib in it, that's a deal breaker.

I'm not sure how I solve that problem for you. But I guess according to lizyank, you will be punished by a magical invisible karma for disliking babies.

Did Michael kill one?

You mean is Michael actually the Karma monster?

No that isn't what I meant

No problem

bgrfrank... how did you "get rid" of the cat?

Not so much that I dislike babies, I have no feeling for them one way or another. But let's face it, they're pretty vile and I would not like to live next door to one.

I'm struggling to determine how this discussion of this cat continues to be relevant to the rule breaking.

you are the one that mentioned it...
how did you get rid of it?

There was no longer a violation afterwards.

There was no longer a violation afterwards.

how did you get rid of it

"they're pretty vile" sounds like a strong feeling. but you don't kill them.

bgrfrank, yes, do tell. how exactly did you get rid of it.

"I'm struggling to determine how this discussion of this cat continues to be relevant to the rule breaking."

your logic is beyond bad.

haven't u all figured it out by now?
lilfrankie(his wives name for him) did nothing to a cat...

moxie, that's what i thought. but let's let the big boy explain, don't you think? the horse's mouth (or ass) and all that.

All that matters is that a good neighbor - not to mention a good person - would not have done that.

i work with animals. As i sit here with my two cats and pug i agree that there is no scummier action in the world than to abuse animals. i was only trying to taunt lilfrankie into revealing how much of a psychotic he is. i don't know if he will pay a karmic debt but i know he should.

moxie, he'll probably reincarnate as a cockroach and survive nuclear armageddon.

ar,
he's already a cockroach

Since Frankie likes historical references I will remind him that Rosa Parks was "breaking the rules". Does that mean she should have sat at the back of the bus?

In terms of saving the world, obviously its going to take more than the tooth fairy to get that job done so long as there are people like you.

And btw I've been called a lot of things in my life, some of them not so pleasant, but "meek" and "feeble minded" are new to me, and I would imagine anyone who knows me--even people on this board--would strongly suggest that they are way off the mark as accurate descriptives.

i was the first to be critical of hermie re sneaking in a pet and at one point there was a snarky comment about living next to me.... but holy cr-p hurting an animal because their owner broke a rule!!!! bgrfrank is either screwing with us (i hope so) or a certifiable NUT!! hurting an innocent creature because it's owner broke a rule... i can even speak about horrible it is to hurt an innocent life.
hurting an animal is as bad as hurting a child, they are both totally helpless.
i hope bgrfrank is just being an idiot.

"Since Frankie likes historical references I will remind him that Rosa Parks was "breaking the rules". Does that mean she should have sat at the back of the bus?"

Yes, violating the rules of a co-op YOU CHOSE and going against the wishes of the folks who CHOSE to live in a pet dander-free building is just like civil rights.

I'm going to refuse to pay for my sandwich today. I'm rosa parks, too.

aboutready, I sincerely doubt that the cat will reincarnate as a cockroach, but that's interesting way of thinking.

lizyank, I'm going to echo somewhereelse. After your sillyness regarding the karma monster coming to get me, now you equate Rosa Parks to disagreeing with a co-op board about pets. THAT is feeble minded. Maybe you aren't meek, rather one of those brass ballsy loud-mouth busty busy body ladies with a smoker's voice, but that doesn't raise your intellect, so I stand by feeble minded: Rosa Parks, Mother of the Modern-Day Civil Rights Movement = cat owner violating a co-op's rules?

I don't smoke and haven't for almost 20 years..

And I'm not equating Rosa Parks with objecting to co-op board rules (if I did I would have a washer/dryer)...I am equating an attitude of the "Rules Are The Rules and Must Be Maintained By Any Means Necessary Above All Else". I do not condone sneaking pets into a "no pets" building as I told the original poster unless its a rule so flagrantly violated (ala Sty Town in the 80s/90s early 00s) as to be a complete joke. In fact my advice to the original poster above, was very much against purchasing in a no pets building with pets.

What I condemn, and continue to condemn in the strongest possible terms is brgfrank's acting as judge, jury and executioner for his neighbor's cat rather than allowing her time to deal with the situation in a compassionate manner.

Hermie31,

Did you ever go through with it? My wife and I have two cats, and we're thinking of kids at some point. Like you, I imagine, this place is a killer deal, in terms of space, location, etc. Otherwise, a two-bedroom in our price range would be in East New York or Coney Island. I exaggerate, but you get the point.

So, how'd it go? Give it a shot, or did you just walk? Thanks.

I would think long and hard before sneaking pets into a no pets building no matter how good a value. Even cats are not undetectable. How are you going to get rid of the cat food cans and kitty litter boxes? If the staff and management is truly on pet patrol they will look at what's being recycled for exactly that kind of thing. What happens when its time to go to the vet if there is a doorman/security guard/nosy neighbor? I am sure that something just as good will come your way where all of you can live openly and in peace and not in East New York either. Hang in there.

Cats are a lot harder to hide than you'd think, so I hope you were honest with the board. Youd efinitely don't want to start off on the wrong foot as a shareholder. Kudos to everyone on this thread who replied that they successfully sneaked in a cat or dog, but I personally wouldn't try it. There rule exists for a reason which most likely includes the majority of shareholders not wanting to hear or smell an animal nearby.

What's the point of buying into a co-op if you're just gonna flout the bylaws? Either get rid of the cats or don't purchase in a no-pets building. It's not rocket science.

aboutready
about 22 months ago
ignore this person
report abuse "they're pretty vile" sounds like a strong feeling. but you don't kill them.

bgrfrank, yes, do tell. how exactly did you get rid of it.

"I'm struggling to determine how this discussion of this cat continues to be relevant to the rule breaking."

your logic is beyond bad.

whenever i read an old post with aboutready's comments in it, i feel so glad that stupid cow has been put out to pasture.

I was informed that there were no dogs allowed in the building at my co-op interview. I was advised i had to sign something agreeing to this. After I moved in noticed that there were many dogs in the building. The board rules in the board package I received do not state that there are no dogs allowed. I understand that the President of The board decided on his own that he doesn't like dogs and enforcing this rule for new owners. Is this legal? or do all residents have to vote on the no dog rule? After being in the building many years, my boyfriend who stays over 4-6 days a week has openly brought a dog in for over 6 months now. Can the board go after me for this?