Renter Balking at Getting Rid of Pit Bull

[MOHomeowner]

When my renter moved in, I agreed on the lease that she could have 2 dogs. I didn't recognize at the time that one of them was a pit bull. Recently, she got rid of that dog and got another. It's a puppy pit bull. Again I didn't recognize that was what it was. It wasn't until she told me a few weeks later, that I knew. I called her a few days later and told her I had checked my insurance and it didn't cover pit bulls. (I don't know that for certain, but they just tried to cancel my insurance because they thought the house was vacant, so I'm pretty sure they would do the same for the dog.) I asked her to get rid of it. She then offered to add it to her renter's insurance. I told her no. She got all huffy about it and hung up. What are my rights here. I don't want to take the chance of something happening and losing everything because of the dog. At the same time, she has been a very good renter. She's been there about a year and a half.

[bobj123]

Personally, I would see if her putting it on her renter's insurance would cover your liabilities. I doubt that it would, but maybe it would. And even if it didn't I think she would appreciate the fact that you were trying to work with her, and she might voluntarily get rid of the dog. Good tenants can be hard to find, just as good landlords are.

[jk]

you need to do a little investigation.

Are there any ordinances in your city, township, county, etc. regarding pitbull dogs. If there isn't you are the one who failed to specify what dogs were and were not acceptable so you are stuck with your own failures.

If you have a long term lease, I believe you are stuck with what you have allowed. If on a month to month tenancy, check your statutes to see if you can evict her for no specific reason. If so, terminate the tenancy and get her out.