Home
Emergency Services
Contact
Pets in Government Housing
General Information
Residents of Army Family Housing (AFH) are responsible for maintaining and controlling their pets. The privilege to maintain an animal is granted to residents based on the owner's ability to responsibility. This privilege may be withdrawn if the pet displays a threat to the health or safety of personnel, becomes a nuisance, or the pet owner fails to responsibilities.
1. No more than two dogs or cats or combination thereof are authorized per dwelling unit. Other domestic pets, including goldfish, hamster, and birds, may be kept in AFH. Exotic pets (for example, snakes) are prohibited.
2. Owner are required to register their pets with the post veterinary clinic within 2 weeks after acquiring the pet or the arrival of the pet at their permanent command. The owner must present the pet's current vaccinations (to include rabies) at the time of registration, maintain record, and update required vaccinations, as necessary. A vaccinated animal will receive rabies tag that will be worn by the animal at all times.
3. Sponsors and their spouses will ensure that pets are controlled so that they do no become a public nuisance or menace. Animals that habitually bite, scratch, attack, or otherwise threaten people without provocation are a community health menace and will not be allowed in government housing or facilities. A severe incident (for example, an animal that has attacked an individual) is cause for removal of the offending animal, regardless of the number of prior incidents.
4. Pet owners residing in AFH are subject to host-nation (HN) laws governing the treatment of pets. HN law and USAREUR policy prohibits the inhumane or abusive treatment of animals. Inhumane or abusive treatment is defined as any act or omission whereby an animal's physical or psychological well-being is compromised unnecessarily. Punishment for violation of HN law may be in form of fines or actual removal of the pet from the owner's possession. In cased where owners are negligent in pet care of supervision, immediate action will be taken to have the pet removed from the area, when appropriate.
5. HN law imposes absolute liability on the animal's owner or keeper for damages to public or private property and personal injury. Liability insurance for pets is recommended.
6. Breeding pets and the construction and maintenance of kennel-type operations are prohibited in government controlled housing.
7. When outside the owner's quarters, animals will be kept on leash and will be accompanied by an individual capable of controlling the pet. Young children under the age of 12 without adult supervision will be considered incapable of controlling pets.
8. Dogs and cats will not be allowed to relieve themselves on balconies, playgrounds, or within 50 feet of family housing buildings.
9. Pets will not be:
- Tied to stair railings, radiators, pipes, shrubbery or trees
- Allowed on balconies unattended
- Housed or locked in storerooms, attics, or basement rooms
- Allowed in laundry rooms
10. Complaints or improper control of pets will be reported to the military police (MP). The MP will investigate complaints and send an MP report to the Base Commander for action.
11. A sanitation inspection (health and welfare) may be conducted on any apartment alleged by written complaint to substandard in cleanliness, odorous, or where a pet has apparently been abandoned. Entry into the quarters will be in the presence of the sponsor or an adult family member unless immediate entry is required to prevent damage or destruction of government property.
12. Owners who abandon their pets are subject to action under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and are responsible for all costs incurred by the government in relation to the transfer, care, custody and final disposition of the animal. During extended absence, pet owners must make arrangements for care of their pets.
13. Pets will not be left unattended in vacant quarters for an extended period of time.