Friend in trouble - need help

[michika]

Call the UofC (I think they have a legal aid deparment), and ask for legal aid. They will give you the local Calgary number for lawyer referal line.

[BC564]

And meanwhile...get the cat out of there.

[Zylumn]

If everything is on the Up and Up (as I'm sure it is) then I would give the Sun or Herald a call. It sounds like the kind of story they would run with.
Kevin

[SeaShell]

She needs to remove the cat from the condo asap! As soon as she became aware of the No Cat requirement, that cat should have been gone. If the cat is still there, she is seriously in contravention of the bylaw or act that they are enforcing. On top of that, she is Knowingly contravening the bylaw. She shouldn't flaunt it in their face if she wants them to go a bit easier on her.

[EmilyB]

Originally Posted by Zylumn

If everything is on the Up and Up (as I'm sure it is) then I would give the Sun or Herald a call. It sounds like the kind of story they would run with.
Kevin

Or CTV, I can soooo see that story on there.

[naesco]

I am a BC lawyer.
Have her phone the Canadian Bar Association
Lawyer Referral Service in the city where she lives and ask for a lawyer who deals in Condo's or Strata's whatever they are called in Alberta.
There is a $30 ish 1/2 hour fee.
Wayne Ryan

[albert_dao]

Thank you guys so much!

[IceTurf]

gl and "may the force be with you"

[Quagmire]

City by-laws cover public areas such as the hallways and party rooms,weightrooms etc.Not the private area of the home itself.
If she owns the condo,the condo society can't legally dictate what she does in her own property.I had a friend in the same situation,who hired a lawyer and that was the result.But that doesn't mean they wont make life difficult.
If she is renting,and the lease says no pets,then she would need to get rid of the cat or move.But as far as the fine is concerned,they don't have the authority to issue a fine.They can say "We are fining you,you have to pay"but its only lip service unless backed by a officer of the court (law).In this case she should hire a lawyer to clear it up,because the company may send the fine to collections,ruining her credit even though they have no legal right the payment.

[trilinearmipmap]

I don't want to sound cold-hearted, but IMO the best way to help people is not to help people at all. When we "bail people out" they don't learn from their mistake and just screw up again.

Friends of mine rented their condo to a girl and had a no-pet clause. She got a cat and left it unattended in the condo for a week. The cost for new carpets etc. was in the thousands, she flew back to Hong Kong and didn't pay. I realize this is a different situation but I think people are responsible for their actions and need to be held accountable.