Brambilla sull'abolizione della Corrida:un atto di civiltà
| Law and common sense |
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Travelling we come in touch with different realities. In order to avoid trouble, it is best to have a general idea of the rules governing pet ownership. Below are some suggestions, dictated by law and common sense, you should follow to make your holiday with your pet the most enjoyable possible. IN AN APARTMENT BLOCK, PROMOTE PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE
Even on holidays coexistence in an apartment block can be troublesome at times when tenants complain about the presence of a dog, perhaps because he/she is particularly noisy.The rules in this respect are set by condominium regulations, which vary from one to the other. Some regulations forbid the presence of dogs in the building, others do not allow animals in shared areas. These documents can be amended, but it is not easy: to do so a meeting is necessary of all the apartment owners, who must unanimously call for the amendment, and then summon another assembly to unanimously approve the new text. Condominium regulations therefore can be changed, but only if all the apartment owners agree. If the majority of the apartment owners decides to modify the condominium regulations in order to no longer admit dogs in the building, but one does not agree, the regulation cannot be altered. Unhappy neighbours can only report the case to the police, according to Article 659 of the Code of Criminal Law. For the act to be identified as a crime, though, "the noise must be objectively sufficient to have a negative impact on the peace of an undetermined amount of people". It is up to them to prove that the contents of their report are grounded. Indeed, dogs are allowed to bark, since it is their natural form of expression. Fines may be imposed, but only if it is not the neighbours alone that are inconvenienced, but rather when "the barking exceeds the limits of ordinary tolerance and potentially offends the peace of an undetermined amount of people" (Criminal Court of Appeals, 19th April 2001). No one can therefore ask for the expulsion of a dog or a cat solely by collecting signatures or gathering a majority in the assembly. Of course, pet owners are responsible for promoting peaceful coexistence with the other tenants, trying to avoid any inconvenience. Finally, a few suggestions for anyone planning to rent an apartment: firstly, it is best you check that the rental contract and condominium regulations do not bar you from bringing your pet inside the building. It is also proper to check that there are no bans or limitations to the circulation of animals in shared areas. This approach should be used both when the contract is signed with private subjects and when it is arranged with a qualified agency. The best solution is to have your pet's presence included in the rental contract: this protects the tenant as well as the owner of the apartment from any damage. People with a civil liability insurance for any damage caused by their animals will certainly be more welcome. |
