Woman is in the doghouse for breaking condo's rules

LOS ANGELES TIMES
LONG BEACH, CALIF. -- EVERY TIME PAMELA MCMAHAN TAKES HER MIXED-BREED COCKER SPANIEL THROUGH THE LOBBY OF HER OCEAN-VIEW CONDO TO GO FOR A WALK, IT COSTS HER $25.
THAT'S BECAUSE HER CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION SAID SHE IS VIOLATING THE RULES BY ALLOWING GINGER TO WALK THROUGH THE LOBBY RATHER THAN BE CARRIED.
BUT MCMAHAN, 61, WHO GETS AROUND WITH A CANE SINCE A BACK INJURY LEFT HER PARTIALLY DISABLED 10 YEARS AGO, SAID SHE CANNOT LIFT THE 20-POUND POOCH.
"CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?" MCMAHAN ASKED. "IT'S SO RIDICULOUS."
SO FAR, MCMAHAN HAS RACKED UP $1,600 IN FINES FOR VIOLATING AN ASSOCIATION RULE THAT BANS LOOSE DOGS FROM COMMON AREAS, EVEN IF THEY'RE ON A LEASH. SHE IS CHARGED $25 WHEN SHE LEAVES THE BUILDING AND ANOTHER $25 WHEN SHE RETURNS. SO FAR, SHE HAS PAID $600 OF THE FINE BUT DOESN'T WANT TO PAY ANY MORE, SHE SAID.
PROPERTY MANAGER DAVID DICKTER SAID THE ASSOCIATION SIMPLY IS ENFORCING A LONG-STANDING RULE DESIGNED TO PROTECT RESIDENTS FROM UNRULY DOGS.
"A LOT OF ELDERLY PEOPLE LIVE IN THE BUILDING, AND A DOG CAN JUMP UP ON THEM AND THEY CAN GET TANGLED IN THE LEASH," HE SAID.
DICKTER SAID THE OTHER DOG OWNERS IN THE BUILDING EITHER USE THE ALLEY EXIT OR CARRY THEIR PETS OUTSIDE. NEARBY CONDO TOWERS ON OCEAN BOULEVARD HAVE SIMILAR RULES, HE ADDED.
"THE RULE WAS IN EFFECT BEFORE SHE MOVED IN," DICKTER SAID.
THIS IS FAR FROM THE FIRST TIME HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS HAVE CLASHED WITH RESIDENTS WHO OWN PETS. MANY ASSOCIATIONS BAN PETS ALTOGETHER. AND SOME THAT ALLOW THEM HAVE STRICT RULES ABOUT WHERE THEY CAN BE AND EVEN HOW MUCH THEY CAN WEIGH.