And now everyone can see why some schemes ban pets completely.
Because of creeping precedents.
There’s a communal pond with fish in it, so I can have a cat.
If I can have one cat, then I can have two cats.
And I can run a revolving door of foster cats, with no references as to their previous good behaviour.
Having read this story, I believe that “not wanting to create a precedent” is a justifiable reason and not “unreasonable”.
Congratulations on all the stress and work you have caused your EC.
In view of the precedent you have created, maybe soon one of your neighbours will bring (without permission) a big cat-eating dog into the scheme.