* * PETITION * *
The
Activities
Committee has
proposed a
dog swim
(“doggie dip”)
in the Outdoor
Pool on the
evening of
Monday, Sept. 6
(Labor Day).
Although this is
against
Montebello’s
Rules and
Regulations,
frowned upon by
the Fairfax
County Health
Department and
against Fairfax
County Health
Code 69.1-1-15
(prohibiting
animals near or
in condominiums’
outdoor pools),
our Board of
Directors is
considering
making a
selective
exception to our
Rules to approve
this event after
the pool closes
on Labor Day
evening. Some
other Virginia
condos have
previously held
such events at
their outdoor
pools, with
mixed results.
Dogs would be
able to swim
freely in the
outdoor pool,
and pet owners
would not be
allowed to enter
the pool at any
time, even to
save their pets
from potential
injury/drowning,
during the dog
swim.
Lifeguards would
have to be
present and
compensated
accordingly.
The pool water
would still be
drained and the
pool completely
cleaned next
spring.
However, this
could
potentially pose
various health
hazards, such as
urine/feces
bacteria/ticks/fleas
festering in the
pool water until
spring,
potential damage
to our pool
filter system by
excessive dog
hair, and
possible
scratched/damaged
pool tile and/or
dog vomit in and
around the
pool/pool deck.
It may also pose
health risks for
those residents
with pet
allergies.
If you
oppose this
proposed event
and want the
Board to vote NO
on this proposed
activity, please
sign the
attached or
email your views
to the Board at
mcuoa@vacoxmail.com.
Thank you for
your support.
-Concerned
Outdoor Pool
Users
NAME
BLDG/UNIT
NUMBER
The above
petition can be
printed: (select
only area to be
printed). Return
any signed
petitions to
Carole Hall,
building 4.
From the Fairfax
County
Department of
Health (DOH) (POC:
Mark Muro):
While it is
against Fairfax
County Code of
Law to permit
dogs in any
recreational
facility that is
common area in
condominiums
located in
Fairfax County,
some
condominiums do
sponsor dog
swims after the
outdoor pool is
closed on
evening of or
after Labor
Day. The DOH
frowns upon
this, but knows
such events take
place provided
certain
conditions/requirements
are met:
(a)
The General
Manager must
surrender its
pool permit for
the season and
confirm closing
of the pool.
(b)
During the dog
swim, NO
residents are
allowed into the
pool; only dogs
are allowed. If
a dog gets into
trouble or
drowns, no
person may enter
the pool water
under any
circumstances to
rescue it.
(c)
Residents should
show Management
proof of
documentation
that dogs
participating in
the event have
had their shots,
are free from
open sores,
ticks and fleas,
and duly
registered.
(d)
Lifeguards are
strongly
recommended to
be present
during the dog
swim and need to
be paid
accordingly.
(e)
Most condos
charge $5 for
the dog swim
entry fee, to be
used to help
defray costs of
any damages to
the pool or
sundeck.
(f)
Negatives of
this event
include: dog
urine and feces
in the pool are
common and can
spread bacteria
and foul odors
in and around
pool; dogs can
scratch the pool
tile and
replacement of
tile is
expensive; and
dog hair can do
overall damage
to the filter
system,
especially if
pool is not
drained until
following
spring.
(g)
It is also
recommended that
someone from
Management staff
be present to
ensure that
event is
properly run and
all requirements
are satisfied,
and that pool
inspectors
inspect the
premises the
following day
for sanitation
purposes.
(h)
Residents whose
dogs participate
in such an event
must accept
responsibility
for any damage
to the pool or
sundeck, and
should sign
forms releasing
Management from
all insurance
liability in
case of injury
or death of
animals.
From High Sierra
Pools:
(a)
Concurs with DOH
that lifeguards
need to be
present, whether
event takes
place from
8:30-9:30 pm on
Labor Day, or in
the morning on
Tuesday after
Labor Day. The
General Manager
would have to
negotiate a rate
of payment for
the lifeguards,
whether at
regular or
overtime pay.
(F&B and
Treasurer would
have to find
money for this
in our current
budget).
(b)
There are
approved and
officially
sponsored dog
swims twice a
year at other
Alexandria
locations, at
which all dogs
are welcome to
participate if
they wish.
(c)
The pool deck
should also be
sanitized/cleaned
immediately
following the
dog swim and
duly inspected,
so that
sunbathers can
safely use it
(if it stays
open after the
pool is closed,
like ours does).
From Watergate
at Landmark:
While a dog swim
event has taken
place at this
condominium
located in the
City of
Alexandria,
there have been
incidents when
dogs have left
feces in the
pool and even
vomited on the
sundeck. This
is a common
occurrence, as
is dog hair in
the filters and
on the pool deck
and foul odors
from wet dogs
after the event
both at the pool
and in the
elevators.
Loretta will
likely get a
list of “cons”
from Rosemary
Perlman, who is
a Montebello
resident, works
at Watergate at
Landmark, and
has had
first-hand
experience with
such events in
the past.
Also, residents
who regularly
use the pool are
upset because
they have not
been consulted
on this. One
out of 50 people
recently
surveyed at the
outdoor pool
ctually thinks
this is a good
idea. In
addition,
residents seem
to be worried
about several
issues:
(a)
consequences to
children who are
allergic to
dogs.
(b)
Potential costs
of damages to
the outdoor pool
and sundeck, and
negative
unsanitary
consequences of
this next
season.
(c)
If the Board
makes an
exception to our
own Rules and
Regulations,
what next? Will
this set a
dangerous
precedent to
other rule
violations being
ignored? For
example, may
residents bring
glass into the
pool area after
the pool is
closed, risking
broken glass on
the concrete?
Will dogs be
allowed to enter
the Community
Center, front
lobbies or
garages in the
future? Will
other pets such
as cats, birds,
gerbils, frogs,
etc. be allowed
into the pool
water after the
pool is closed
at some point in
the future? What
about babies
without
diapers? What
good are Rules
and Regulations
if exceptions
can be made to
them?
(d)
Will this
“cheapen” or
“denigrate” the
status of our
luxury
condominium in
any way?
I would
appreciate if
you could bring
this to the
attention of
your fellow
members on the
Board of
Directors so
that they may be
able to consider
the above before
they decide to
approve or not
approve this
proposed event.
Many thanks,
Carole Hall
Below is a copy of email correspondence
regarding using the outdoor pool for a doggie dip the last day it's open. Please
send your comments to the Board.
Let me have a chance to spread the word a bit among other
residents who
regularly use the pool and get them to share their reactions/comments with
the Board, as I do think this needs to be shared with pool users to get
their input before a decision is made. Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of
email addresses for these people, so I'll have to spread the word by mouth
this weekend.
Personally, I don't care if it's the last hour that the pool is open or if
it's the last day or day after the pool closes that dogs are let in the pool
and if it will be cleaned/drained afterward, I still strongly object.
And the primary reason is that it is simply a violation of our Rules and
Regulations; secondary reason, is that it's gross/disgusting/unsanitary,
etc.
If we start making exceptions for allowing our R&R to be broken, then what's
next?
People can then bring glass containers at the pool? Not picking up after
dogs on common grounds? Children allowed to skateboard on our roads? If
you make one exception to our R&R, it sets a dangerous precedent for others
to not care about why we have rules in the first place. And then we start
ignoring our Bylaws....
I just can't see the logic here is allowing this idea.
Another option for the Activities Committee to think about: Maybe they can
get a resident to volunteer use of and blow up a portable pool, put it on
the Village Green, and do a doggie dip there. Pets aren't allowed near th
Outdoor Pool, period.
Again, I'd be happy to get some other neighbors' comments on this, and see
if they agree. Hope we have time to carefully consider
pool users' views before the Board next meets. Sorry, I just can't see this
happening for any good reason.