Pets

A landlord can prohibit all pets from the property, or allow some and exclude others. The only situation where the landlord cannot prohibit pets or require additional deposits is for assistance animals to help a person with a disability, such as seeing-eye dogs for the visually impaired and assistance/companion animals for mental health consumers.

• Any “material”, or serious, violation of a lease or rental agreement may be grounds for eviction. If your lease prohibits pets, your landlord may be able to evict you if you have a pet on the property.

Tenants with pets or assistance animals have many responsibilities:

• You must make sure that your pets are clean, adequately fed and watered, taken to the vet regularly and properly immunized.
• You may be required to purchase a license for your pet.
• You must clean up after your pet – waste tends to attract rats and other pests.
• Do not allow your pet to disturb your neighbors by barking or running loose. It is your responsibility to keep your pet under control.
• Find out if you need insurance for your dog. Owners of many dog breeds that have been deemed dangerous may be required to maintain liability insurance, even if the pet owner has never had a problem with his/her dog. Failure to maintain the proper insurance for your pet may mean that it could be put down.
• If you are aware that your dog is dangerous (it has bitten or attacked someone in the past), you may be liable civilly and/or criminally if your dog attacks anyone again.
• Remember, if you do not control your pet, you may be liable for fines, court costs, and any injuries inflicted by your pet.
• You will also be responsible for any damage done to your apartment beyond reasonable wear and tear.

For more information contact:
Town of Mansfield
Animal Control
230 Clover Mill Rd.
Mansfield, CT 06268
Email: ACO@MansfieldCT.org
Phone: (860) 487-0137