I have always wanted a dog. I grew up with a dog, and ever since he died when I was 11 years old, I’ve wanted another.
Sometimes I’m lucky enough to get to babysit for this cutie!
In my 20s I knew I didn’t have the right lifestyle for a dog. I worked long hours and traveled a lot and, if I’m being honest, the truth is that I just wasn’t ready for the responsibility. Then when I got so sick I had to leave my job, I was home a lot. I stopped traveling. But I was so sick that I could barely take care of myself, never mind another being.
Now it’s different. I’m still too sick to work, but I’m doing a lot better. I’m more stable. I’m taking care of myself ok. And I really really really want a dog. I ache to have a dog. Literally. When friends talk about their dogs, I ache to be in their shoes. When friends post photos on Facebook of dogs that need adoption, I ache to take those dogs home. I’m so ready to have a dog. And I’ve been mostly sure I could handle taking care of a dog, except for the walking part. Dogs need exercise, but some need more than others. I could get a dog that doesn’t need much exercise. I’ve been working hard at walking most days, and I’m taking short walks about 6 days a week! (Woo hoo! Those of you who’ve been reading this blog for a while know how big this is!) But dogs need to pee and poop more than once a day.
So I felt there were three big obstacles to me getting a dog:
1) Walking.
2) Money.
3) My landlord.
Then something changed. I was talking to a friend this week about how much I want a dog and my concerns about walks, and she suggested training one to use a litter box. Many people have suggested that, but it sounds ridiculous. The thing is, she did it! She had a dog that used a litter box! She also had a friend who did it. So maybe it wasn’t that ridiculous after all? I looked it up online and found some great resources. There’s even special litter for dogs! This totally solves problem #1!!!
Now, let’s assume I can handle the money aspects. Those are a real concern, but I’m working on them.
That leaves my landlord as the final obstacle, and I can’t imagine how I can possibly overcome that problem. You see, Boston is a pricey city. (When I say “Boston” I mean the neighboring towns, too. Just fyi.) There’s also a very low rental vacancy rate. This means that rents are high and landlords have a lot of power. I won’t get into all the details of the effects of the Recession on the housing market, etc. Just believe me when I say this is a tough place to be a renter. And the vast majority of landlords don’t allow dogs. Including mine. (My landlord doesn’t allow cats, either. And I believe birds are also off limits.)
Remember back in February when I said I was looking for an apartment? Well I did. I looked. And I gave up. I’ve been in my current place for many years, and my landlord hasn’t been raising my rent as much as they could. I pay a lot less than new tenants in my building. So even though I was looking in a less expensive area (where I’d rather live anyway) I couldn’t find anyplace as nice as mine. And I wasn’t even looking for a place that allowed dogs!
“Wait, what if it was a therapy dog?” you might ask. A lot of people have asked that. And yes, by law all landlords have to allow therapy pets. I would have no trouble getting my doctor to write the necessary letter. In fact, she has previously said that I should consider getting a pet because it would help me. So let’s assume I got the letter and I had a therapy pet. Now by law my landlord can’t kick me out, right? Sure, but they can “forget” to fix things in a timely manner. And when my lease comes up for renewal, they can raise my rent to what my neighbors pay – $300 a month more! I wouldn’t be able to claim discrimination if others pay that much. And future landlords might be just as difficult…. if I could even find a new place to live! Remember, I already looked at apartments last winter. Yes, there were places, but do I really want to live someplace smaller, darker, and louder just so I can have a dog? I’m not sure.And what if that place didn’t work out either? I really don’t want to move constantly.
So now I’m wondering, what’s the reality of living with a therapy dog when you rent an apartment? Do landlords retaliate? Or do they actually accommodate you the way they should? I know that no one person can speak for all landlords, but I would really love to hear about people’s experiences to find out if this is even possible. If you have a therapy dog and you rent an apartment, how has it been for you?
Chronic Rants 
You know – I find this whole process of thought to be very interesting and a bit odd (by thought I mean that to allow pets in a rental property should be something landlords should run from) – we own a condo in Radium Hot Springs (little town in BC) which we try to rent out in the summer in order to pay all the bills – we have found that by opening the rental up to allow pets, we actually get a better quality of guest (I know that sounds really judgemental – and I don’t mean to be – let me explain). What we have found is that there are fewer places that will allow pets – so when families or individuals want to vacation with their pets, they have a smaller pool of available accomodations. AND – typically people with pets tend to be more responsible in our experience – we have never had our place trashed by a family with two dogs as we have with say – a group of 4 guys going out for a golf weekend – so I say – bring on the pets. Pet owners like to be with their pets, they take care of them, and I think are more likely to take care of our property.
Now – can pets cause damage that humans typically don’t – yes – so we do charge a pet fee, which is still less than a kennel, and we ask the tenant to lock the dog up if they ever leave without the dog, and to vacuum the couch cushions before they leave as a courtesy to subsequent guests – this has NEVER been an issue – no one has ever complained about our “pet requirements” – so I say – bring on the pets – and yes, I think an additional damage deposit or something like that in case of massive pet damage is appropriate, but I don’t understand the “try to push someone out because they have a pet” attitude. Now in saying that – my sister did live in a condo which wasn’t a rental situation – everyone owned their condos (which I know is a bit different) but she had to repeatedly clean up poop in the hallway and such from certain dog owners who were subsequently served with penalties by the condo association – this type of behaviour I think is rude and inconsiderate to your neighbours and the fines/penalties quite justified – but I guess maybe that is where these sort of attitudes come from – like everything else – 1 person who is irresponsible, or takes advantage of the system ruins it for everyone else! In a rental situation though – I think the landlord could very easily draw up a contract or expectation of responsibilities of the pet owner which would make it clear what would be tolerated and what wouldn’t – like excessive barking or something – and what the potential consequences could be… everyone needs to just be a little more reasonable!
I find it so interesting that as a landlord of a rental, you prefer pet owners. Could you have a chat with my landlords? 😉
You make an interesting point about irresponsibility. It’s really about the humans, not the dogs, and irresponsible people will be a problem whether or not they own pets. I often trip over a neighbor’s shoes that are left in the hallways outside their door, but a bit too far into the hallway. People leave litter on our front lawn. Even though no smoking is allowed in the building, people smoke and I have to smell it. And don’t even get me started on the noise levels! Those problems all have nothing to do with dogs. So yes, a dog would add to the potential problems, but there’s such a long list already, I can’t imagine that a dog would be so much more.
Thanks for your support!