HOA battles a homeowner over ESA Pig

Ashoka Lion recently came across a story about a unusual emotional support animal and the fight that erupted between neighbors. The animal in question is a pig named "Chorizo" (no it is not the one in the picture), but was walking a community park, when a community resident charged at the owner and her friend with the animal who was on the leash. The unidentified lady was very perturbed by the animal being in the community and was threatening to call the HOA of this community (NOTE: Ashoka Lion does not manage this HOA community). The dispute was captured on video by a friend of Chorizo's owner, who kept telling the angry woman that her pig was a emotional support animal and it was not causing any issues, but the angry woman kept threatening to call the HOA.

There is a increasing amount of attention to support and service animals, and the abuse of the practice by tenants trying to circumvent pet deposits and pet fees by landlords. As emotional support animals and service animals are governed by the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), the violation of the law can subject a landlord to extreme fines.  When handling service and support animals, HUD has recently updated guidance (FHEO-2020-01) is important to follow the law as it has very strict questions or review that can be done to determine if the animal is a service or support animal protected by the guidance, and property managers, landlord, and HOA's can be subject to investigation and fines for ignoring the law.

For our landlord clients, Ashoka Lion's Dallas rental property management, Houston rental property management and Houston multifamily property management teams require all animals be registered or if a person is applying is not a current owner of a animal that they sign a affidavit acknowledging such.  The registration process is turned over to our screening partners who review all pet applications to insure completeness as well as reviewing all service animal applications to make sure that they are compliant. Currently, our service partners are able to help screen out 60% of claims as having not met the criteria.

For our full service HOA clients in Houston or  our new Arizona HOA management operation , if Ashoka Lion is confronted with animals who are being kept in the community that are not agreed upon by the HOA governing documents, then we would have to utilize the review service to insure that the homeowner's animal met the HUD requirements.  Our HOA communities must realize that a animal who is classified as a support or service animal are protected by the law and are not considered "pets" but essential for the living and enjoyment of those people who own them.  Many people can see the need for those individuals who need a Seeing Eye Dog, but what about those homeowners who need the animal to detect a seizure or issue that may affect them mentally?

It is these difficult and complicated waters that HOA management and Rental property management companies are navigating. For the homeowner in the video, she may come to learn that the HOA is fully supportive of the homeowners right to "Chorizo".  For more information on issues like this, please follow our blog, our social media on  Facebook, Instagram ,etc. For those communities who need help managing their HOA community or rental properties, please do not hesitate to reach out to request a property management proposal for our services in Houston or Dallas or a HOA management proposal in Arizona by our Ashoka Lion Arizona property management team.