From EcoReality

Contents 1 EcoReality Pet Policy 2 Ecoreality Population Policy

EcoReality Pet Policy

• Pets are a great addition to an ecovillage. They can be companions as well as having roles or jobs to perform.

  The pet policy is meant to provide guidelines to ensure that the balance of sustainability is not tipped and the removal process of unwanted pets rarely or never has to be used.

• In a community of 8 households (24 people), the general guidelines for pets are:
  • 4 Outdoor cats (1 per every 2 household)
  • 2 dogs (1 per every 4 households)
• Cats:
  • Generally there are two types of cats. Indoor (never go outside) and outdoor.
  • Cats that do go outdoors are essentially the community’s cats. They will have free reign of the property and will be able to come and go from their owner’s house as they please. They should be provided with bells around their necks to prevent unwanted critter casualties. It will be the responsibility of the owners to maintain the health of the cats and pay for any medical attention it may need.
• Dogs:
  • Dogs require heaps of attention and guidance. Any dog residing on the ecovillage must be very friendly, non-threatening, well behaved, well trained, and gets along well with the other animals and people. Including all children.
  • Training is essential for the dog. It is required that:
    • It respects the property’s boundaries.
    • Does not dig in the garden or any other sensitive area.
    • Does not beg for food.
    • Does not chase wildlife or other animals.
    • Comes when called.
    • Can be called off at any point.
    • Knows where it is appropriate to eliminate waste.
• Indoor pets:
  • Ecoreality supports the theory of non-violence towards all creatures. Caged animals do not live the full lives they do out in the wild. Any requests for indoor pets will be discussed on a case by case basis.
  • Indoor cats are welcome under the same guidelines as the other pets: Friendly, healthy and well behaved.
• Behavior:
  • The animals of an ecovillage will have maximum stimulation. In their lifetime they will meet hundreds of people and animals including other pets, wildlife, kids, animal lovers (and not so lovers). We feel it is ideal if the pet is friendly (either in an outgoing way or maybe they’re shy and hide for a while when guests arrive, but then warm up to new people).
  • Fighting, attacking other animals, scratching or biting people is a hazard that can be prevented. Aggressive pets are not welcome and will be asked to leave the ecovillage if their behavior is not modified rapidly.
• Strays:
  • Every pet requires an owner/handler. Homeless pets are welcome only on a temporary emergency basis until a home or owner is found. If the community is at full pet allotment, the home must be off of the community.
• Pet management:
  • Should a pet go against one of the animal guidelines, the following process will be put in action:
    1. A conversation will be had between the pet owner and the animal stewards; a solution to the behavior will agreed upon and a training/behavior modification plan will be put in to action.
    2. Should the animal persist with the negative behavior the animal will be requested to have limited access to the property and immediate actions will be put in place by the whole community to encourage the pet to modify its habits.
    3. Should the pet persist, it will be requested to find another home.
  • Should a pet act in a violent way towards another animal, immediate action will be taken. An assessment will be done by the animal stewards and they will steward a proposal outlining to the community what options are available for that pet. It may be asked to find another home if the pet has an aggressive history.
  • Should a pet act in a violent way towards a person, it will most likely be asked to find another home immediately.

Ecoreality Population Policy

• Diversity in population is key to an ecovillage.

  Sustainability includes having people of all ages living and working with each other on the land.

• Children are categorized as being under 16 years of age, or under 19 and still in school full time.
• The ideal ratio of adults to children on the ecovillage is 3:1.
• Children are a necessity to the community and families are welcome. It is with delicacy and empathy that Ecoreality has established and enforces its population control to maintain the balance of working adults to children and dependents.

  A child on the ecovillage is a child of the ecovillage. We will all share in the child’s upbringing and the child will impact all of our lives.

• Parents, or "expecting to be" parents, are encouraged to discuss with the community their desire for having or adopting children. The community will pass on “birthing rights” to the couple when the ratio of adults to children is at a level that another child can be supported by the community.
• Parents having or acquiring children while living in the community without having “birthing rights” will be supported by the ecovillage in their decisions. Those parents are requested to work with the advisory council or population stewards to formulate and present to the rest of the community a plan of inclusion for the new being to fit in. The community will acknowledge that this new person was not within the “birthing rights” category and work to make way and accept the situation.
• Unexpected births or adoptions are not ideal for the sustainability and planning of the ecovillage. However, not all of life is planned and laid out how we intended, and our values will guide us as a community to create loving, non-violent workability with such a situation. While we are not a haven from the rest of the world, we are a safe place to land, even if temporarily.