A four-legged Instagram star is in a dogfight over her Manhattan duplex.
Landlord BH Properties is trying to boot a curly haired cutie named Ruby, a mini goldendoodle — along with owners Stephanie Handley and John J. Sayers — from their rent stabilized West 51st abode.
The pooch has lived at the pad since April 2020, but BH Properties has “recently taken aggressive steps” to kick them out because dogs are not allowed under the lease.
After nearly two years, the time for doing so “long ago passed,” the couple claims in the court papers.
After all, they’ve “openly” lived with Ruby, who has more than 4,500 Instagram followers, brought her to and from their apartment daily and allege the building’s workers “know or should have known of the dog’s presence,” according to a Manhattan Supreme Court lawsuit.
Owner John J. Sayers celebrates a Fourth of July holiday with his son and dog Ruby. Instagram
Tenants Stephanie Handley and John J. Sayers argue the landlord was well aware of their “dog’s presence,” according to the lawsuit. Helayne Seidman
The landlord claims to have only learned about Ruby in November. Helayne Seidman
The owners have posted dozens of Instagram photos of their pet Rudy playing around in their apartment. Instagram
Handley and Sayers’ dispute with their landlord began when a maintenance worker first saw “Rudy” running around. Helayne SeidmanUnder city law, a landlord has three months to take action once they realize a renter has violated a no-pet clause.
The landlord contends it first learned Ruby was there in November, when a worker entered the apartment to do repairs, the company said in litigation.
