Please let me put in a fence!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

In our golfing community you can't really do ANYTHING to your house or yard without getting approval from the powers that be.  So I had a fence company come over and do up a proposal to install an area across the back of our screened lani that would give Rooney a place to play outside without me having to worry about him dashing away from me or from a alligator lurking at the edge of the lake.  Don't worry - I would not be leaving him there unattended.  I then found out that I couldn't have a fence if there isn't a 20ft setback from the lake - which I am short of.  Major bummer.  I figure that if I can't find a way to get a fenced area - Rooney won't be able to get a sister - I would just not feel that I could keep two puppies safe.  So here is what I did.  I called the guy in charge and just layed on the sad story of how worried I am about my poor puppy with traffic/gators and would he pleeeeeez just come look at my yard to see if anything could work.  Whine, sniff.  He just left and he is going to try to get us a varience!!!   I should be ashamed of  groveling but if it works it will be worth it, so please cross your paws that we can get a fence!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Oh can I feel your pain ...... pretty much every housing subdivision in FL have Home Owners Associations that operate in this manner.  When we came to Ohio house hunting and walked into a place that had an HOA I turned around and walked out.  it was a total pain in the $(#!     Not that I'm not for things looking nice and not having broken down cars in the yard, but some of these go overboard and if you get some crazies on the Board, look out!   I was so happy to say bye bye to our HOA when we left.  Hopefully yours will be willing to work with you.

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

I have felt the pain on both side of the HOA issue.  I have had to struggle with the HOA for the type of fence we wanted to put up in our backyard.  There is a 5' height limitation.  The problem is Harlow can do a standing jump higher than 5'.  After going a few rounds with the HOA we got approval for a 5' privacy fence with a 1' lattice trim at the top for a total height of 6'.

But I have been on the HOA board in the past and we have had some strange requests presented for approval. We even had one family seek approval to put up a 5' chainlink fence in their front so they could keep their hybrid wolf dogs in it for protection. Can you imagine they were very disappointed when we didn't approve?

I hope you get approval for your fence.  Doodles and Gators don't mix.

 

[Camilla and Darwin]

Crossing my fingers for you, let us know what he says!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

A fence will make your life so much easier, especially if you have two dogs. I just wish I still had grass in my yard :(

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

PAW'S ~ FINGERS & TOES are crossed!!!  You have no reason to be ashamed you were just using all of your resources to get what you wanted ;-)

[Melissa]

paws crossed!!!  Certainly he has a heart! :)  Hope it all works out!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Case in point - due to either Rooney's cold or as we believe his allergies we have to give him meds at 2:30 a.m.  So last night I'm half asleep and I step outside the front door to let him potty.  For the first time ever he saw a bunny and just took off running.  I got him right back but if we had this fenced area he couldn't have done that.  So for now - I'm leashing him every time we step out of the door :(

[Jodi and Stella]

Did you have Rooney bat those beautiful green eyes at the guy?

[Linda and Murphy]

 I got Murphy the summer after Katrina. The gators were awful (later we found out it was because the out of state work crews were feeding them..soo against the law). The gators got a Weimaraner, but she survived. I didn't think my 6 lb Murphy stood much of a chance. I got permission to put up a 3.5 ft wrought iron fence (more to keep the gators out than Murphy in) 

Good luck.

[Taylor & Huff]

I hope you can get the fence! It is so annoying when you have to get approval for everything.

[Michele, Biscuit & Mo]

Ha! Way to work it, Jane!  I know that HOA's can be challenging, and it looks like you did what you needed to do.  First, the fence.... then a new sister!

[Pat and Traveler]

Hokay, paws crossed!  I had part of my back yard fenced before I even started looking for a dog.  I knew it would be a nightmare putting on a leash and going outside every time a pup needed a potty break.  I have never regretted a dime of that fence cost!  There's still the door open/door close thing, but at least I don't have to go outside in my jammies in the middle of the night with a dog that just wants to play.  :)