Apartment Living With Your Dog

MSN Dog Central ^ | September 29, 2006 | Sandy Robins

[libstripper]

One sure sign that a downtown neighborhood is becoming a fashionable place to live—more than just a commercial district—is the number of dogs out and about on the sidewalks. Today, many apartment buildings and individual landlords are developing increasingly lenient pet policies to attract more dog owners to these newly gentrified urban areas.

There’s no question that city living offers many on-tap conveniences that make it an attractive alternative to a suburban lifestyle. But how dog friendly is downtown? There is much more to consider when it comes to your pal’s well-being than the landlord’s consent or the homeowner policy confirming that pets are welcome.

advertisementSeeking Out Pet Friendly Buildings Whether you are looking to rent or buy, the best way to find out if the neighborhood is dog friendly is to take your dog for a walk and stop to talk to anyone else out walking their dog.

Many realtors are now paying special attention to the pet-loving sector of the apartment housing market. So it’s a good idea to seek out someone who specializes in such properties. Veterinarian offices, groomers and pet stores are also a mine of information and many have notice boards with postings of suitable apartments in the area.

[CSM]

"When people can affort to pay the pet deposit, you get more dogs."

Ah, ha! This darnded Bush economy! It is Bush's fault!

[wmfights]

"I just think some people are too uptight for their own good."
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You're the one who started in with the character assassination. Clearly, you have a myopic view of the world and are incapable of recognizing dogs do not belong in all housing environments.

[mom4kittys]

No, but sometimes it is a temporary necessity. I know most people when they move to a new city (usually due to a transfer) might rent an apartment for 6 months to scope out the area and look for permanent housing.

Besides, I would think that people with pets are the norm, not the exception.

[mom4kittys]

As for character assassination, I think you started it by lumping all pet owners into one category with the assumption that they are not responsible to keep the apartment in good condition.

[wmfights]

"No, but sometimes it is a temporary necessity. I know most people when they move to a new city (usually due to a transfer) might rent an apartment for 6 months to scope out the area and look for permanent housing."

Let's debunk this nonsense. One of the excuses we here is "I'm just taking care of him for a short time" and a year later they are still taking care of him. The other tenants see the pet and of course they now have to have one.

Since you only need the apartment for a short time what you are really saying is I should fix up the apartment for you and not really look for a return on my investment. Preparing an apartment for rental, if it's in good shape, requires patching, painting, buffing the floors, replacing the blinds, resealing around the tub and cleaning. Renting an apartment also includes running ads and in some instances using rental services. So since your only going to need the apartment a short time where's my return? Also, since you have a dog, assuming it doesn't damage the apartment and or drive out other tenants, when you move I'm going to have to repeat the whole process and probably incur an additional month's vacancy because the apartment can't be rented to new tenants until the dog is out. All this to avoid your inconvenience.
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"Besides, I would think that people with pets are the norm, not the exception."

Not in large urban high density neighborhoods, unless they are being gentrified. I tried accommodating pet owners for a while and after all the problems discontinued that policy.

[mom4kittys]

Isn't that what a 6 month lease is all about?

[wmfights]

"As for character assassination, I think you started it by lumping all pet owners into one category with the assumption that they are not responsible to keep the apartment in good condition."
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It's clear to me you only see what you want to see. You love your dog so everyone else must love your dog or their bad. It's a sophomoric attitude.

Do you have any idea what dog urine does to a hard wood floor if it's not cleaned up right away?

Do other tenants have rights to privacy? What happens to those privacy rights if your "little precious" starts barking any time someone comes or goes? The tenants won't tell you that your "little precious" is bothersome because they don't want to offend you. They know how special your pet is. After all it's a part of your family. The offended tenants will either call me, or move without telling me why.

It's obvious your consideration extends to yourself.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Frankly I don't blame you. In truth the American culture is too much about spoiling rotten pets. Spoiled-rotten pets make bad neighbors; they're messy (from #2 to ripped-off door frames) and obnoxious and pesky.

Now, if the norm was well-behaved animals, it would be a different story.

I totally understand (unfortunately) the general anethema to animals, dogs in particular.

[Eaker]

My goodness you have a chip on your shoulder.

It sounds like you would keep out children and other races if you could get away with it.

What are you doing this weekend, evicting a mother and her three children because their goldfish is too noisy?

[mom4kittys]

Do you keep out children too? They can be noisy and pee on the floor too. Let's lump them in that category as well.

There are responsible pet owners and parents as well.

[Gingersnap]

Some big and giant breeds are actually perfect for apartments - mastiffs, greyhounds, deerhounds, etc. These breeds aren't very active after the age of 2 or 3 or so.

Other dogs that would appear to be a better fit, like Shelties, are hopeless because of their activity level and barking.

[wmfights]

"Now, if the norm was well-behaved animals, it would be a different story."
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It's nice to see someone "gets it".

If the pet owner can't commit to the time to care for and train their pet they shouldn't get one.

[the OlLine Rebel]

I would add, raise & train them PROPERLY. Not at PetSmart (PetStupid).

[Fawn]

Oopps...I forgot some people in get upset when people are nice to animals. Must of stuck in your craw, huh?

[wmfights]

"What are you doing this weekend, evicting a mother and her three children because their goldfish is too noisy?"
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You obviously don't read well. I think the reasoning is straight forward.

[wmfights]

"Do you keep out children too? They can be noisy and pee on the floor too. Let's lump them in that category as well."
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Your dog is an animal. It is not a human being. It's really silly to compare the two.

[wmfights]

"I would add, raise & train them PROPERLY. Not at PetSmart (PetStupid)."
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You're absolutely right.

[mom4kittys]

I don't think it is silly at all. You obviously don't have pets.

[wmfights]

"I don't think it is silly at all. You obviously don't have pets."
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I knew at some point your irrationality would get the better of you. You are comparing a dog to a human being. The easiest way to point out the absurdity of what your saying is to ask how many of you pet owners, who think their pet is the same as a human being, are ready to die for your pet?

I know if it came to it I would give up my life for my child's life in a second. A pet is just a domesticated animal. It is not a human being. Pets are great to have in the right situation but they are not human beings.

[mom4kittys]

My animals are more well behaved than most of the children I come across on a daily basis. It is the owners and parents that make the difference. You are blackballing all renters based on your bias of pet owners. That is so narrow minded.