Speedbump on the highway to new home - ouch!

So, well, after having all our condo-buying arrangements practically fall into our lap (well, with alot of well-organized support from me, and our hardworking agent), we've hit a small glitch at the LAST condition of offer.

The condo by-laws.

Now, this is a unit in a condo building I've looked at for years. The FIRST question I ask about residential arrangments, is "are there any restrictions on pets?". As you know, my family includes fur-bearing quadrupeds as well as a couple of humanoids.

A few years back when I chatted with a sales rep for the developer and asked my key question, she answered me along the lines of "No, not at all - many residents have pets". So, in this past couple of weeks with our agent, I just casually confirmed this. Our agent knows we have 3 cats - no mention of any issue.

I discovered last night that Article VII: Pets, Item 2 states that "Without prior written approval of the board, the only pets permitted in one Unit are up to two (2) cats....".

Sound of slamming brakes and screeching tires.

I admit to a moment of late-night panic. I mailed our agent and lawyer right away, then mailed our agent's assistant too just incase our agent was out. While we could still let the offer fall through without a legal consequence, well, I DON'T want to be in the position of trading my dream home for one of my fur-folk.

Now, in the light of morning, I've calmed a bit. I noted that the "Without prior written approval..." phrasing was a 2004 amendment to the original declaration that unconditionally stated "only two". I have also noted that despite an explicit prohibition on large dogs of certain breeds, I've seen someone with a Rottie there in the past. I am hoping that this means the change in phrasing was made specifically to acknowledge that exceptions may be requested by Unit Owners who are still responsible, upstanding citizens who just happen to count higher than two when it comes to sharing the fuzzy love.

It's not like I'd want to be breeding pitbull puppies by the dozen - I just have 3, not two, middle-aged housecats. Here's hoping.