An Orange County family recently dealt with a persistent coyote that invaded their property and killed seven of their goats. In their quest to protect the remaining animals, they found themselves facing a legal challenge from their homeowners association (HOA).
Steve and Karen Bloom own a one-acre property in Laguna Hills. The HOA has filed a lawsuit against Steve for elevating his backyard fence beyond the community’s approved height of six feet without prior authorization.
“A coyote just jumped over the fence and killed my goats,” Steve shared, recounting the distressing incident. “It’s scary to go out and see your goat being torn apart.”
Initially, in an effort to deter the attacks, Steve added a mesh layer to the fence and raised its height from six to eight feet. Unfortunately, the coyotes continued to invade. He then installed flashing lights, which turned out to be ineffective as well.
Eventually, he made a more significant modification, adding a 45-degree angle at the top of the fence to reach about nine feet. This change effectively kept the coyotes out. However, this success came with repercussions as the HOA took legal action against them.
Steve expressed that, although he did not seek HOA approval for the alterations, he felt compelled to act urgently after losing seven pets. He argued that other regulations also mandate the protection of animals.
The Blooms were baffled that their coyote fence was under scrutiny while a nearby tennis court was permitted a fence as high as 15 feet to prevent balls from rolling downhill. “It’s like comparing a goat’s life to a tennis ball,” Karen noted.
The HOA remarked in a statement that they attempted to negotiate with the Blooms prior to the lawsuit, claiming that the Blooms “refused to make any changes to the violative fence and refused to participate in mediation.” The suggested alternatives by the HOA were also noted to be quite costly.
As of now, the association is asking a judge to mandate that the family comply with the six-foot fence restriction.
This situation has ignited discussions online, with many questioning whether HOA regulations should supersede the rights of homeowners trying to safeguard their pets from recurring threats. Some users expressed sympathy, urging the HOA to collaborate with the Blooms for a workable solution instead.
Conversely, others argued that residents should be aware of the restrictions when moving into HOA-managed communities. One commenter expressed a lack of sympathy for the Blooms, suggesting that residents of a lavish area ought to consider the implications of their surroundings.
One alternative solution proposed the age-old method of using dogs to guard livestock, while another commenter distilled the debate into what seemed like a matter of common sense: “There’s a simple solution: Don’t move into an HOA neighborhood.”
