Court Grants Preliminary Injunction Directing Tenants to Remove Three Pit Bulls

Landlord sued tenants for creating a nuisance by keeping three pit bull dogs in their apartment. Despite issuing a notice to cure, the dogs continued to behave aggressively and in a threatening manner toward other residents, their pets, visitors, and building staff. After commencing the case, landlord asked the court to issue a preliminary injunction against tenants requiring them to immediately remove their dogs from the building, to not keep any dogs in their apartment without prior written consent from landlord, and to refrain from engaging in any objectionable conduct that interfered with the rights of others to peacefully enjoy their apartments or in the common areas by causing conditions that were dangerous, hazardous, unsanitary, and detrimental to other tenants, residents, building staff, and the general public. Landlord had described a number of incidents in the building during 2024 where the dogs tried to attack other dogs, at least one other tenant, and one staff person. Tenants also verbally threatened other people in the building. Landlord also reported an instance where tenant walked down a building stairway with the dogs one evening, leaving behind a trail of feces and urine. 

PP 535 Carlton TC LLC v. Cosme: Index No. 533271/2024, 2025 NY Slip Op 50581(U)(Sup. Ct. Kings; 4/18/25; Maslow, J)