is this legal?

[Izzydizzy]

So my godmother lives in an apartment building. She owns a pitbull who everyone loves and adores because hes the sweetest dog.

her building said that she has 1 week to get rid of the dog because they have banned pitbulls from the aparment building. My question is , is this legal?

because it states that Virginian has state level laws prohibiting local municipalities from passing BSL's.

But does that apply to apartment buildings which are considered private property?



ALSO....if it turns out it is legal, anyone have any idea how we could get fake vet papers saying hes not a pitbull?

[Patrice]

well 1st posting your potential illegal activity isn't the markings of a criminal mastermind.

Second google your way to a local Pitbull advocacy group...they know how to finesse stuff like this/point you towards local help.

[MaxxedMan]

A lot of states, cities, and other groups of people pass laws and rules banning pit bulls. It's almost always legal, and even if its not, her land lord will just evict her and then she can spend money on lawyers or find some place new to live.

Pit bulls have been proven to not be the people aggressive (aggression against humans) killers they are seen as, they do have one of the highest degrees of dog aggression (aggression against other dogs) of any breed. This can vary from animal to animal, but its generally true. So in a building with other dogs, the ban is even supported by facts as a safety issue, to other pets if not people.

She can't win any court case and all she can do is cause herself a lot of grief. People hate pit bulls, reasonable fear or not, they aren't going to feel safe with it in the building, someone called the landlord, and they won't "change their minds."

Probably best for your grandmother if she finds the dog a new home, or a new home for herself and the dog.

[Draconis]

This is a good question to go to browneyedbitch, I think. I believe she's an apartment manager, and she should know that laws surrounding pets, etc. Er... perhaps not for Virginia though. =\

Are there any breeds of dogs that closely resemble him? I guess that's the first step to faking papers, if that's the way you want to go...

[indianprincess]

Originally Posted by Draconis

This is a good question to go to browneyedbitch, I think. I believe she's an apartment manager, and she should know that laws surrounding pets, etc. Er... perhaps not for Virginia though. =\

Are there any breeds of dogs that closely resemble him? I guess that's the first step to faking papers, if that's the way you want to go...

Maybe the dog needs a makeover, plastic surgery, you know? That'll fool em.

[ElleJ]

There are other bully breeds that people mistake for pitbulls.

Like my dog, who's an "American Bull Dog" We don't know that for a fact, but that's what our vet told us to call her in the licensing paperwork with the town. Her adoption paperwork calls her a "Boxer Mix," also to avoid any potential issues like this.

It can't hurt to talk to the vet and see what (s)he says.

Though, if I had to guess, I'd say Maxxed is onto something. It may be that someone in the building has an annoying little yipyap and made a complaint about the big mean pitbull. If that's the case, I suspect it would be hard to change the minds of the management.

[phooey]

What color is the Pitbull?

[marina]

I don't know about Virginia, but California has a companion animal law that states that a pet can not be removed from a residence after it has been approved for that residence. For example, if the building changes it's pit-bull laws, it is still not legal for them to remove all the existing pit-bulls in the building, they can only prevent further pit-bulls from moving in. But California is extremely tenant friendly.

A local pit-bull group could probably help you.

[picard102]

Ya, you'd think your Grandmother's dog would be Grandfathered in.

[drtygrrl]

Originally Posted by ElleJ

There are other bully breeds that people mistake for pitbulls.

Like my dog, who's an "American Bull Dog" We don't know that for a fact, but that's what our vet told us to call her in the licensing paperwork with the town. Her adoption paperwork calls her a "Boxer Mix," also to avoid any potential issues like this.

It can't hurt to talk to the vet and see what (s)he says.

Though, if I had to guess, I'd say Maxxed is onto something. It may be that someone in the building has an annoying little yipyap and made a complaint about the big mean pitbull. If that's the case, I suspect it would be hard to change the minds of the management.

Adorable! I also have an American Bulldog, He is a lot bigger than the average pit bull. I hate that people discriminate against dogs just because of the breed. I could see if the dog had a history of biting people or being aggressive in the building but it doesn't. Grrr.
Here's a pic of him with my cousin's boxer puppy..