Passing Kindly with Pets Indoors

Passing Kindly
Navigating Indoor Spaces on Four Legs and on Two

Posted: February 9, 2026
Filed under: Pet-Friendly Living, Bylaws, Community Etiquette

Shared Spaces, Shared Courtesy

Our hallways, stairwells, elevators, and lobbies are some of the most frequently used shared spaces at Red Haus. They’re where neighbours pass each other throughout the day—heading to work, coming home with groceries, walking the dog, or returning from the parkade.

Because these spaces belong to everyone, they work best when approached with mutual courtesy and a spirit of cooperation.

Red Haus is a pet-friendly community, and that is part of what many residents value about living here. At the same time, neighbours may have different comfort levels around animals. Some residents are enthusiastic dog lovers, some are cautious, and some are simply passing through on a busy day.

Living well together means meeting in the middle. Dog owners are asked to keep pets under control and be mindful of shared spaces, while non-dog residents are asked to remember that responsibly managed pets are a welcome and permitted part of community life here. No one group has a greater claim to common space than another—we all share it equally.

This refresher is about helping those daily interactions stay respectful, smooth, and neighbourly for everyone.

What the Bylaws Support

Pets on Common Property must be leashed or safely contained in a carrier, and under the care and control of a responsible person at all times.

Common Property includes:

• Hallways

• Stairwells

• Elevators

• Lobbies

• Parkade areas

All residents are also expected to use shared spaces in a way that does not unreasonably interfere with others’ enjoyment of the property. The guidance below is simply what those principles look like in practice.

Bylaw References: 62.B, 3(i)

Before You Open the Door

Leash First, Then Hallway

Please leash your dog inside the suite before opening the door—not after stepping into the corridor. This helps avoid sudden encounters and keeps transitions into shared spaces calm and predictable.

Carriers for Small Pets

Cats and smaller dogs often do well when carried or transported in a carrier through busier areas such as entrances and lobbies. This can help pets feel secure while making movement through shared spaces easier for everyone.

Elevator Etiquette

Keep Leads Short

Elevators are compact shared spaces. Keeping your dog close to your side rather than at the end of a retractable leash gives everyone more room and helps avoid surprises when doors open.

Practice Patience Both Ways

Some residents may prefer extra space from a dog. Others may be comfortable sharing the elevator as normal. Courtesy can come from either side: a dog owner may choose to wait for the next car, or another resident may do the same.

Neither expectation should fall automatically on one group. A brief moment of patience and goodwill from either neighbour usually solves the situation with ease.

Give Everyone Room

Positioning yourself and your pet toward one side or corner of the elevator creates space for others to enter and exit comfortably. Likewise, fellow riders can help by entering thoughtfully and avoiding crowding where possible.

Hallways & Stairwells

Keep Moving Through Transit Spaces

Hallways and stairwells function best as pathways rather than stopping points. Keeping traffic moving helps everyone navigate comfortably, whether with pets, strollers, deliveries, or mobility aids.

Bathroom breaks, play, and longer pauses are best saved for outdoor areas.

Pass With Courtesy

When approaching another resident, shorten the lead and move to one side. If extra space is needed, allow one another to pass comfortably.

Sometimes that means a dog owner stepping aside. Other times it may mean a neighbour pausing briefly to let a resident with their dog continue through. Shared courtesy works in both directions.

Watch the Corners

Blind corners can create sudden close encounters for people and pets alike. Slowing briefly and taking wider turns can make crossings smoother for everyone.

If Your Animal has an Accident

Sometimes accidents happen. What matters most is responding promptly and responsibly.

If your pet has an accident in a common area:

1. Clean it as thoroughly as possible right away

2. Notify the Site Office so the area can be properly sanitized

3. Follow up if additional cleaning or repair is needed

Where carpets, upholstery, or finishes are damaged, restoration costs may be charged back to the unit owner under the bylaws.

Reporting an accident is not viewed negatively—it’s simply the responsible way to care for a shared space.

Bylaw Reference: 45(g)(i)(E)

Lobbies & Main Entrances

Entrances and lobbies are high-traffic areas shared by residents carrying groceries, using strollers, walking pets, or moving with mobility aids and deliveries.

A few small habits help these spaces run smoothly:

• Keep dogs close to your side

• Carry small pets when practical

• Avoid stopping in doorways

• Step aside when pausing to chat

• Keep pathways clear during busy times

• Offer one another patience during peak moments

These simple gestures make coming and going easier for everyone.

A Final Note

None of this is new—it is a reminder that shared living works best when neighbours extend grace to one another.

At Red Haus, pets are part of our community, and so is the expectation of mutual respect. Dog owners and non-dog residents alike share the same hallways, the same elevators, and the same responsibility to help those spaces feel welcoming.

Thank you for doing your part to keep Red Haus considerate, balanced, and neighbourly.

— Your Red Haus Board of Directors

Neighbourly Noise Awareness (02.26)

Neighbourly Noise Awareness
Quiet Hours, Open Windows: Noise In-Suite and On Patios

Originally posted: Winter 2025 | Updated: February 2026
Filed under: Bylaws, Community Etiquette, Pet-Friendly Living

Life Close Together, Living Well Together

Red Haus is home to 483 households sharing walls, ceilings, hallways, courtyards, and outdoor spaces. In a community like ours, sound is simply part of daily life. Doors open, children play, pets react, music drifts, footsteps carry, and patio conversations travel farther than we may realize.

The goal of a healthy community isn’t silence—it’s consideration.

Noise concerns are among the most common neighbour-to-neighbour issues in multi-family living, and they affect residents of every kind: pet owners, parents, shift workers, early risers, evening entertainers, and everyone in between. This guide is here to help all of us better understand how to live comfortably and respectfully alongside one another.

What the Bylaws Support

Two bylaw principles guide how Red Haus approaches noise concerns, namely:

Respect Inside the Building

Residents are expected to use their homes in a way that does not create a nuisance or hazard for neighbouring units.

Respect in Shared Spaces

Residents are also expected to use Common Property in a way that does not unreasonably interfere with others and reflects courtesy toward neighbours, families, and visitors.

These standards are intentionally flexible because noise depends on context.

A dog barking once when someone knocks is normal.

A dog barking for long periods at 6:30 AM several mornings a week may need attention.

A dinner gathering on a Saturday evening is part of community life.

Amplified music shaking a neighbouring wall late into the night is different.

Reasonableness matters.

Bylaw References: 3(i), 3(j)

Common Sources, Practical Solutions

Pet Vocalizing

Repeated barking, whining, or howling is often a sign that something needs adjustment—routine, stimulation, training, separation support, or health.

If this is happening regularly, consider connecting with:

• Your veterinarian

• A certified trainer

• A walker or daycare provider

• Enrichment or exercise supports

Helping your pet feel settled benefits both your animal and your neighbours.

Patio & Balcony Conversations

Outdoor sound travels farther than many people expect. A conversation on one patio may be clearly heard several floors away, especially when windows are open.

Please be mindful of voices, music, and gatherings outdoors—particularly in the early morning and later evening hours.

A small adjustment in volume often makes a big difference.

In-Suite Audio & Entertainment

Speakers, subwoofers, televisions, and sound systems can carry through walls and floors more than we realize from inside our own suite.

Helpful habits include:

• Keeping bass levels moderate

• Moving speakers away from shared walls

• Lowering volume later in the evening

• Checking in with neighbours if you’re unsure

Sometimes the best sound test is simply asking the person next door.

Footsteps, Furniture & Hard Floors

Many Red Haus homes feature hardwood, laminate, or tile. These surfaces can increase impact noise to the unit below. Simple fixes include:

• Area rugs in living and bedroom spaces

• Felt pads under chairs and tables

• Lifting rather than dragging furniture

• Mindful movement during early or late hours

These small choices can noticeably improve comfort for neighbours below you.

Dogs on Patios & Balconies

Patios and balconies are meant to be enjoyed, including with your pet. They are also close to neighbouring homes, which means extra awareness matters.

Outdoor Enclosures Are Not Permitted

Dog houses, kennels, crates, and outdoor enclosures are not permitted on patios or balconies. These spaces are intended as an extension of your home—not as a separate outdoor pet area.

Dogs are welcome to enjoy the patio with you, but their primary living space should remain inside the suite.

If Barking Starts, Bring Them In

Dogs on patios often react more quickly to people, pets, movement, and sounds nearby. If your dog begins barking repeatedly or becomes reactive outdoors, please bring them inside.

The patio should be a shared leisure space, not a substitute for walks, exercise, or supervision.

Patios Are Not Relief Areas

Pet waste on patios or balconies creates some of the most significant concerns we see in multi-family living. It can lead to:

• Odours entering nearby suites through open windows

• Staining of surfaces

• Damage to concrete, coatings, and waterproofing systems

• Costly repairs and maintenance impacts

For that reason, patios and balconies are not toileting areas. Pee pads, artificial turf relief stations, and similar products are not permitted.

Please use outdoor walking areas and dispose of waste promptly at designated stations or garbage bins.

Where damage occurs, repair costs may be charged back to the unit owner under the bylaws.

Bylaw Reference: 45(g)(i)(E)

Waste Matters: Shared Grounds, Shared Responsibility

The most common pet-related concerns we receive involve waste near entrances, along walkways, and on landscaped areas. A few habits help keep Red Haus clean and welcoming for everyone.

Please Remember:

• Do not allow pets to relieve themselves in planters, shrubs, flowers, or trees

• Dispose of waste immediately and hygienically

• Whenever possible, guide pets at least 20 feet from entrances before relieving themselves

This helps reduce odours, tracking, turf damage, and wear around the busiest areas of the property.

For smaller pets, carrying them a short distance from the doorway can be especially helpful.

Pet Stations are located throughout the property and stocked with bags. If one is running low, please let the Site Office know.

When a Neighbour Raises a Concern

If a neighbour reaches out about noise, it’s usually best to see it as helpful feedback. Many concerns are resolved quickly and respectfully through a short conversation and a small adjustment.

Most issues never need to go beyond neighbour-to-neighbour communication.

If speaking directly doesn’t feel comfortable, or if the concern continues, the Site Office is the next step. Written concerns should include:

• Dates

• Times

• What occurred

• How often has it happened

Clear records help the Board understand patterns and respond fairly if needed.

When the Board Becomes Involved

Formal enforcement is rarely the first step. The goal is always to encourage awareness, communication, and reasonable correction wherever possible.

Where repeated or unresolved bylaw breaches continue, the Board may use the enforcement tools available under the bylaws, including monetary sanctions. These measures exist to protect everyone’s ability to enjoy their home.

Bylaw Reference: 43

A Final Note

A quiet building is not a silent building. Babies cry. Dogs bark occasionally. Guests visit. Chairs scrape. Life happens.

The standard at Red Haus is not perfection—it is neighbourly consideration.

Thank you for the care, awareness, and respect you bring to this community every day.

—Your Red Haus Board of Directors