Arlington, VA asked in Landlord - Tenant for Virginia

Q: The shelter can't verify the breed of my dog and the landlord wants him gone.

My landlord allows pets but has a restricted pet list which we are fine with. We rescued a dog from a shelter and sought to follow the rules and add the dog to the lease.

They refuse to add it and say it must go because the shelter and vet put it down as a mixed breed. They say I can't prove it is not mixed with a restricted dog. It is clearly a small friendly safe dog, but they say if it is mixed it has to go. My seven-year-old boy is heartbroken. We acted in good faith to follow the policy, it cleary by sight is not a restricted breed. Help.

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1 Lawyer Answer
F. Paul Maloof
F. Paul Maloof
Answered
  • Landlord Tenant Lawyer
  • Alexandria, VA
  • Licensed in Virginia

A: In Virginia, the rules and regulations regarding dogs that the Landlord makes part of the lease will control. This is not considered by the Courts to be an unreasonable restriction regarding dogs imposed by the Landlord.

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