MOVING? GO THE EXTRA MILE TO KEEP YOUR HOUND!

Thanks to New Leash on Life for permission to use their article below.

 

Moving is the one of the most common reasons that people give up their pets. We encourage you to go the extra mile to find a place for your four-legged family member.

Don't give up the search for pet-friendly housing.

• Most people give up too quickly in their search for rental property that accepts pets. Don't feel pressured to take the first apartment you see.
   
• Widen your search beyond the classified ads. Many landlords list with real estate agents or rental associations. Take advantage of rental services that help tenants find apartments. Tell friends, relatives and co-workers that you're looking. Many apartments are rented via word of mouth.
   
• Consult pet-friendly housing directories like People with Pets and the rental section of Pets Welcome. Your local animal shelters may keep a list of pet-friendly housing.
   
• Expand your criteria. A home that allows pets might be in a different neighborhood or a few more miles from work. It might not be as luxurious and it might cost a few dollars more than you'd like. Are you willing to compromise to keep your dog?
   
• Don't worry that you're being unfair to your dog by moving into a smaller place. Dogs are very adaptable; they can often adjust even faster than people. Where he lives isn't as important to him as whom he lives with. He wants to be with you and he doesn't care where that is!
   
• Consult with prospective landlords. "No Pets" doesn't always mean "No pets, period!" Go see the apartment and ask the landlord, "Are pets absolutely out of the question?" (You'll have better luck asking this question in person.)

To encourage a landlord to let you keep your dog...

• Bring your well-groomed, well-behaved dog to the rental interview. Show the landlord that your dog is well cared for and that you're a responsible owner.
   
• Bring an obedience class diploma, Canine Good Citizen certificate or other achievement certifications if your dog has them.
   
• Bring references from your previous landlords and neighbors, as well as from your dog’s trainer.
   
• Invite the landlord to see your present home to show him that the dog has not damaged the property nor been a nuisance to neighbors.
   
• Offer an additional security deposit or rental amount.
   
• Use a crate. Landlords are much more receptive to dogs that will be crated when their owners aren't home.

The Humane Society of the United States has many resources for both tenants and landlords. Visit www.hsus.org and search for “pet friendly housing."

If you and your pet have to share a home with friends or relatives...

In difficult times, people often have to move in with relatives or friends who don't like dogs. Use a crate when you're not home or when your family doesn't want your dog underfoot. Set up a portable kennel run in the yard for exercise. You can sell it when you have your own place and no longer need it.