Service (and/or companion) animals can and do perform important
functions for their owners. Even if a property has a "no
pets" policy, pursuant to an appropriate reasonable
accommodation request (my preference is for the request to come in
writing, but there is no requirement of a writing), a resident with
a disability can get that policy waived. And at an apartment
community which welcomes pets, a service animal owner will not have
to pay the otherwise likely pet rent or associated fees. That
part is simple. But, what happens when a service animal
misbehaves or is not properly supervised by its owner?
I am assisting one property in which the owner of a service
animal who lives on the fourth floor, permits the animal to urinate
on the balcony (which then drips on the balcony below) as well as
bark loudly all through the night. The resident has taken the
position that because Fluffy (I made that name up) is a service
animal, Fluffy does not have to comply with the
