NO PETS ALLOWED!!!

What's the deal with people and little dogs (lap dogs)? They constantly carry them, lap the dog, pet the dog, have to take the dog everywhere. The dogs are needy. Constantly having to touch you, be on your lap, and pet. These people will even choose the dog over their lover. Their lovers are second to the animal. Its a psychological disorder, and its called "The teddy bear syndrome ". It is when people don't out grow their childhood need to have a stuffed animal. The dogs often become the master, dominating the human pet. By constantly touching you, and sitting on you... they dominate you. Just think: would you treat another person that way, or allow yourself to be treated that way? Dogs dont love, they are pack animals. They learn to react, and do... to get what they want. Who is training who?

We just bought a house, but before that we were renters for years. We have had a black lab for almost 7 years. It is very very hard to find a place that would take her. And she is the most amazingly well behaved dog I've ever seen (not just saying that cause she's mine - she rocks!) plus she comes to work with us and is rarely home anyways. You are so right - every ad says no pets. Or specifically no dogs. Some allow little dogs only (and I feel like little dogs are louder and bite more...) It sucks to be a renter with a dog.

That said - the house we just bought is an upper lower duplex. We live in the lower and will rent out the top. The renters that are there now have 2 little dogs and seem ok - they were already there when we bought the house in Oct and they are leaving at the end of this month. After that we are remodeling the upstairs before we re-rent it (its in rough shape - as was the downstairs). We are unsure how we are going to handle pets. We are responsible home owners, but in our home search we looked at a lot of duplex rental properties and they all had one thing in common. Nasty nasty carpets and pet stains/oders. I mean cat urine soaked into the subfloor under the carpet. The lower we are living in now had dried dog poop and vomit on the floor. I can't make this crap up. I think the reason there are so many no pets signs is because the landlords have been burned too many times by irresponsible pet owners. And there are a lot out there! I think we'll do pets considered on a case by case basis. I'll want to meet the pet and see how they do and get a couple of personal references. Or I'll just hope we can find people we know to rent the apartment. That would be so much easier.

I've grown up with dogs. After my parents divorced, my mom and we three kids crashed at my grandmother's house for a little while, then moved into a house with a no pets outside of aquariums rule. Which was fine, because at the time we didn't have one, Mama was taking an 18 hour course load of college classes, we were on every type of government assistance known to man, and still dealing with the fallout of having a terrible lawyer and abusive father. Several years later, we were still in the same house, but things had changed a bit: Mama had married my stepdad, who's pretty fantastic; I had scraped my moxie together and stood up to my abusive father; my two younger siblings were having supervised visitation with our father, greatly reducing the chances of abuse. And one day, while my stepdad took my brother to soccer practice, Mama took me and my sister to the pet store to pick up some crickets for our frog (who was, admittedly, one very cool pet). And there was a puppy in the store. Just one puppy, some mix of beagle and Jack Russel terrier. He'd been dumped in a box with several siblings on the pet store's front step overnight. All his siblings had found homes earlier in the day. He was tiny, his belly was extremely round (because he was the runt, when the bigger puppies had gone he had gorged himself to the point they had to take his food away), he was ADORABLE. My sister and I were instantly in love. Mama pointed out we weren't supposed to have a dog... we didn't care. She wanted him just as much as we did. She called our stepdad just to run it by him (not that he'd ever say no to "his girls"), and when she couldn't get him on the phone, she drove to soccer practice to find him, leaving 15 year old me and my 4 year old sister in the pet store, because we didn't want to leave the puppy in case someone else might take him while we were gone. My sister proudly told anyone looking at the puppy that he was ours already so they didn't need to look at him. Mama came back with the expected green light from the stepdad. The puppy came home with us. And we began the cycle of being *very* careful that no one find out we had a dog in this house where we weren't supposed to have one. And that puppy grew into a fantastic, loving member of our family who left us too soon because of organ failure stemming from bad diet. To me, having a dog is just like having another sibling that has four legs and fur and doesn't speak English. No pets policies are stupid and I don't understand them. The place I live in now has a one pet policy with breed and size restrictions. I got a cat, because I'm in an apartment, and I tend to prefer big dogs. I also feel that a dog should have a yard. But I can't even have an aquarium for my cat to look at. No pet policies are dumb. Limiting pet policies are also pretty nonsensical. I realize they're in place so you don't end up with one apartment with two dozen cats, but still.

I am currently housing my mothers chow, plus my newfoundland in my 2 bedroom trailer because of this same exact issue. My mother is nothing if not an overly responsible tenant. I've seen her get silver polish to try and polish the faucet fixtures in the apartments we are moving out of because "that one little water spot might cost us our security deposit." Even at the age of 18 and 19, i wasn't allowed to take anything but water past the kitchen in case something happened it would spill on the tile, not the carpet. She goes 1000000% out of her way to keep these trash holes in the exact condition we got them in because she is scared to lose her deposit over something dumb. She has helped family and friends move out of places. we have moved into places where there is still pizza in boxes on bedroom floors and scum all over the place and the previous tenants got their deposit back. there are so many more things to worry about than her dog when trying to find a place to live. And now she doesnt get to see him because she cant have him at her house. He is completely lost. With her, he was king of the palace. Sleeps on her bed, sits at the table, etc. In a 2 bedroom trailer with 2 kids and a newfoundland, that is NOT happening, sorry Tom. lol. Its is ridiculous what this stigma of PETS can do to someones life. Dog and human alike.

We live in a no-pets flat. We're also owned by 5 cats. They don't come in the house. And they were on the property first (well, the original 4 were, living in the hedge along the back fence). We've explained to the landlord that a) we live behind a row of restaurants and cafes and we've seen the size of the rats they catch and would much rather have the cats, thank you very much, and b) it's such perfect cat territory that if you collected them all up and moved them they would simply be replaced by other local cats. At least these ones are now desexed and healthy and we can pick them up and take them to the vet when we need to. Thankfully the landlord is cool with this. And we haven't mentioned the fact that when we had kittens we used to bring them inside occasionally to get them used to lap-sitting so we could rehome them. ;)

The problem is going to come when we move. We'd love to take them all with us, but I suspect that's not going to be feasible. *sigh*

Candis, I don't actually have to answer to you about what I do with my pets when the time comes that I can't keep them longer. But to put your pro-animal/anti-kids mind at ease, let me reiterate that I gave that cat to a woman that I knew to be responsible and who loved him. As for trying to limit someone to not having a pet just because they can't afford to buy a home, that's not really your business. People are free to feel as attached or not to their pets. There is no set rule that we all must feel equally like the are part of the family. Realize that, and move on.

*pet

Candis, I don't actually have to answer to you about what I do with my pets when the time comes that I can't keep them longer. But to put you pro-animal/anti-kids mind at ease, let me reiterate that I gave that cat to a woman that I knew to be responsible and who loved him. As for trying to limit someone to not having a set just because they can't afford to buy a home, that's not really your business. People are free to feel as attached or not to their pets. There is no set rule that we all must feel equally like the are part of the family. Realize that, and move on.

After my divorce, I considered selling the big house and moving to something a little more affordable. The one thing (the ONLY thing) that kept me from doing it was trying to find a place that would accept 2 large dogs. The thought of losing them and the house and my marriage all at the same time, well, frankly, made me cry like a baby . . . so I sucked it up and scrape up enough every month to make the mortgage payment. I've only got 6-1/2 yrs left . . . then it's mine . . .

I have found that even owners that advertise "NO PETS!" are willing to negotiate with the right people. And by that I mean Responsible Pet Owners. Here in Delaware I have found it to be true more often than not.

I have also found that owners who are adamant about their no pet policy have usually had a previous tenant that did not take care of their pets or had pets without disclosing the information to the owners.

I looked at an apartment once where the owners had not yet had the carpets cleaned and the entire house reeked of urine from a dog that was never walked or let out to use the bathroom. In the end the owners had to replace all the carpets and have the floors specially cleaned before occupancy was safe. Imagine being that homeowner...

It is sad that just a few irresponsible pet owners ruin renting for the responsible pet owners out there.

I'm glad you were ab;e to find a home for your whole family!

I have never had too much issue with finding apartments in Minnesota that will take dogs, however, for dogs it's about the breed. I have a roomie with the sweetest pit bull/dog on earth and they are excluded from pretty much everywhere. I pretty much have to buy my own house in order to get her in or simply lie about the breed and hope they don't catch on. Her biggest danger is licking someone's face off. And if you are messing with a kid...she doesn't understand, just wants to protect the kid.

Candis, the last comment in your post outs you as a childfree anti-breeder a**hole. Therefore I disregard your opinion as invalid.

http://www.padmapper.com/search/apartments/Utah/

This has been a god-send for us. I hope it helps :)

you live in utah though so the 6 kids in a small space does not surprise me lol ! I have 5 almost 6 kids and all of the places we lived (diffent states), looked into moving (dif states) , and even where we are currently we had a hard time finding someone/place that would let us have a lot of kids. I found that people are more discriminatory against a lot of kids than pets. I have pets too, one dog,one cat, one rabbit!

@ Candis Morrison - It's obvious you have anger issues and don't like children but I suggest you put your tongue in check when you're calling someone's baby a "precious little brat".

You're near Salt Lake? There's a website called ForRent.com , and you can search for places based on whether or not they take pets. The page I pulled up was Eagle Landing Apartments on S. Redwood, and under pets is says "New Pet Policy, call for details". I hope this helps. Good luck!

I have had so many troubles renting places with my many pets. Either they don't want the dog or the cats or the snakes or the turtle or the fish... etc. Or they say it is ok and then they let you move in and then contact you saying that they no longer want pets in the house, not because of your pets,(one place I moved into was an apartment complex that got bought by new owners who no longer wanted pets in the complex) and that they won't make us pay for getting out of the lease early for not wanting to get rid of them. The last time we moved we were looking for almost 6 months for a place that would allow all of them. I refused to move into a place that charged monthly for the pets because that would be less money that I would have to spoil them. The way that I see it is that they are my family. I When I got them that was my commitment to take care of them for the rest of their lives or mine whichever comes first. Pets are not by any means cheap, but the love and companionship that they give you in return is, in my opinion, much much more valuable. I do understand that some people are allergic to animals but in most cases the landlord can make there be a security deposit in order to have the animals. As long as they write the lease up right it shouldn't be a worry. Most larger rental companies that I've dealt with actually take so much of your security deposit because they get the carpets shampooed and re-paint the walls after every renter. My daughter is 15 months old and when she comes home after spending the weekend with grandma the first thing she does is look for her kitty cats and "caie uppy" (Cassie puppy) I wish you luck in finding the right home for your family. Don't get discouraged. It may take some time but the effort is well worth keeping your family together.

Maybe you should be looking somewhere else?? Outside of SLC.. Lehi,Provo,Sandy,Roy or my Hometowns American Fork or Pleasant Grove.. Maybe it is just meant to be that you live somewhere else..

I live in an apartment that is "no pets" allowed. You can however have a pet with a Doctor's recommendation. BAM! you get to keep your pet

We have two dogs That we wouldn't give up for the world but here in Utah, It's a LOT harder.

I SO agree!!!!

It's fine to put your kids first, but then maybe you should own your home, or don't own a pet. Its NOT fine, to dump them when the going gets rough....take a tour of your local animal shelter, where all the pets get dumped because of these ridiculous policies. Not EVERYone's pets destroy property, I have 6 dogs and I can guarantee I take better care of them than most do their precious lil brats.

I have two 6 y old, 50# dogs. Finding anything to rent is a nightmare because of them, but I WIL NOT be without them. My female I've had since she was 6 weeks old and I rescued my male two years ago. They are a part of our family. There are only two major rental companies in my city. The one will let you have dogs at $50 dollars a dog every month (which puts most 2 bedroom rental out of my price range) , and if your neighbors complain you have to get rid of the dogs. My dogs bark at EVERY-FLIPPING-THING near the house. That's ok with me because it is their job to protect their territory. Its what dogs do.
So I lucked into the house I am currently renting from my aunt because she doesn't mind the dogs and doesn't charge me more. But she is ready to sell the house which is out of my price range. So now I Need to figure out if I can get a home loan with my shaky credit or start the rental search again in a unknow amount of time. Ggrrr.
oh, and by they way I asked some of the rental managers why no dogs and they all answered because dogs bark and a lot of people work third and the dogs keep hem awake all day and they have to he considerate of those renters.
also, I have found that a lot of the people who rent out houses will allow dogs if you call and ask if they would consider it if you can prove they are well behaved.

Good luck in your search.

Seems to me that a personal approach with the landlord, first getting them to like and understand you and then introducing the idea of Buddah with the willingness to take additional financial responsibily for any damage...Also before you let the bank take your house, you should try to get a "modification" under Obama"s many plans...I wish you guys all the best!

Don't fool yourself. If it wasn't against the law, they would be saying NO KIDS too.

I have to agree with Tim. As a renter I didn't blame the lanlord for not allowing me to bring my 2 cats and for charging me a deposit for my well-behaved cocker spaniel. There is no way for a landlord to know that you perfectly behaved pooch is really that perfect. No potential renter is going to say "Sure my dog takes a dump wherever he pleases and my cat likes to mark his territory on every corner of the house. Please pick me!" Even if he is a well behaved dog, there is still the potential for allergens for the next renter. When I was shopping for my house, we saw MANY houses that were not sellling because of the condition left behind by renters and owners animals. It was disgusting.

Word! Hoping life will get simpler with all the changes you and Mr Noah are experiencing. You might have less in material goods but I know you'll have more in time, spirit and great memories

$5000- for a pet deposit?? Check with your local Tenancy Act, most have restrictions on what you can charge for a pet deposit!! Know your rights.

If I were renting to people I wouldn't allow pets either...I like them but every owner I know has a pet horror story. MOST owners are responsible but it just takes one to do thousands in damage. To top it off, the place can be unrentable for another month or two depending on when you can get the damage repaired. The compromise, is to charge a ridiculous deposit. That sucks but I've seen it work. I've seen a guy convince an owner to take a $5000 deposit. He and pet lived there, moved out, and got the whole deposit back. (I know, not possible for most but may work for some)

Dan, I recommend that on EVERY application you post a link to your blog. Who wouldn't fall in love with your family, furr and all after reading about you?? Pets just make a house a home! So when your looking involve everyone you know in your city to help, a journalist friend, write a letter to the editor and include your blog info. Anything to capture the interest in a landlord that is looking for the ideal tenant....YOU. :)

Hang in there Dan you will find what you need.

People who don't floss and cause meteor strikes: allowed. People with pets: NOT allowed.

Also, in response to a comment on the website...one woman said she´d have legal issues with the landlord if they didn´t allow her daughter´s pet. While I can empathize with your need, those tactics are pretty heavy handed. Keep in mind that the landlord owns that property. It´s his (or hers). What gives anyone the right to force them to allow something in their own property that they don´t want there? I know the no pets thing really sucks sometimes, but lets keep all factors of the situation in view, not just your own wants.

This is why I refused to have pets while I was renting. I knew that it would ultimately limit my mobility if I wound up with a lousy landlord (which I did for awhile). As a renter, I passed on one apartment before I even got through the doorway because the dog next door in the same building was barking its fool head off. I decided I wasn't going to listen to that all day, every day, whenever someone in the 4-unit building came and went. I was already leaving an apartment where the upstairs tenant allowed his family to come visit and leave the dog unattended--a dog with severe separation anxiety who would throw himself against the door repeatedly until he barked himself hoarse, or until his owners returned, whichever came first. So I can see why landlords are reluctant to rent to pet owners. Not only is there an increased risk to the property (a problem which can easily be solved by requiring an additional deposit for the pet), but there's the possibility that a pet which has nuisance behaviors might drive away other tenants in the building.

My mother had tenants that trashed the place ... my badly behaved dog dug up a rose bush and tracked muddy feet into house .... mmm versus
red spray paint and smashed walls ..tough choice.

I have a cat, and she´s adorable! She´s playful, but doesn´t tear up or ruin anything. I rent from my sister, though, so it´s an easy situation. I have had this problem in the past, though. But to me a pet is just that...a pet. Not part of the family. So when it came crunch time and I wasn´t able to find a house that allowed pets, I gave my cat to a very responsible woman I knew. I liked him, but wasn´t attached. The way I see it, my kids will come first. If the decision is between having a home for my kids or keeping my cat, ten cat definately has to go. I know others feel stronger about their pets, though, and I´m sure I´ve made at least one person mad. I won´t apologize for prioritizing the way I do.

Landlords may not be "allowed" to refuse you a plane, Kim, but they do and will. In fact every ad says n/p. I have a 14lb non shedding dog and it's hell finding a place with her in Alberta.

“No cats unless they’ve been (insert whatever you gotta insert to make cats more desirable, I wouldn’t know).” Hahahahaha. I have a cat; she's not very desirable. ;)

My mouth is agape... and for the reason that only just a few weeks ago I was contemplating writing the same sort of post here. I moved to Salt Lake a couple years ago, and NEVER EVER have I experienced the kind of nightmare of finding a rental -WITH A DOG- as I have here. It is unbelievable... and what makes Your blog so brilliant is that I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL and I have made the same quasi-sarcastic comments about partying and meth labs... My heart pours out to You Dan... Salt Lake City is a hard city to live in when You have a dog... YET, doesn't it seem like everyone has one??!?!? I have gone crazy driving around looking for places and seeing all the many dogs being paraded up and down the streets... wondering in my own mind, "WHERE DO ALL THESE DOGS LIVE???" They certainly can't ALL be homeowners... *sigh* I digress, I just felt the need to thank You for bringing this to light...and while I wish it would change things... I don't know that it will. But, hand on heart, I wish You all the best in finding a place for Your beloved family pet...

...And THANK YOU for giving me the opportunity to get this off my chest. I think it is just insane that one bad dog owner ('cause we know it isn't the dog, but the owner ;)) ) has ruined it for all of us in SLC. I've lived many places in the U.S... and this is just about the worst in terms of landlords and flexibility.

Good Luck and Lots of Love... <3
Alicia

yup...same battle we had...When we were looking for a rental...nothing that allowed big dogs:/ so freaking frustrating. They were a part of the family...My German shepards..friendly house broken...no chewing..My 3 kids on the other hand...(none of the above) lol. By stroke of luck we found this place...No credit check...and fine with our animals.But It took 5 months to find it....

I'd rather have a responsible tenant with good pets than a deadbeat without. We ask to meet the pets and see how they fit in the house before we say yes, since the house is small and you can usually tell a lot about the owners from the pets....

As someone who has owned rental property I see both sides.

First, banning certain pets or breeds is silly, in my opinion. The breed is not the issue, the way the animal has been socialized is.

Second, a larger deposit is needed because if the damage done by the careless owners of the pets. I'm sure y'all take care if your pets, but to replace carpet, subflooring, trim, Sheetrock, insulation, and doors due to the damage done by an animal that the owners did not take care of is expensive. There are more people who don't clean up the mess from their animals than do. At least in the renting community. Very sad that the animals live in that fifth. It's easier to get the money up front in a deposit than to go to court and get a judgement but never see the money.

As a renter now I'd love a pet, but I don't want it to ruin what is not mine. I understand how hard it can be to come up with the extra money needed.

But I also see it from the landlords point of view too.

We lived in an apt complex where our landlord told me to have our dogs vocal cords cut so his bark wouldn't disturb the people beneath us. I told her that their visitors that come and go every 15 minutes disturb me throughout the night so my dog's barking disturb them.

I live on the west coast and through our renter company they do not have a ban on pets and each is subject to approval so to speak. But what do discriminate against is breeds! No Rottweilers, Bulldogs of any sort, and dogs over 50lbs. But we have many dogs in our neighborhood that are over 50lbs because they were approved. At least the company is flexible.

Where I live in Canada, Landlords are not allowed to refuse you as tenants because you have a pet, it's considered discrimination.

I have the opposite issue generally. I have allergenic asthma and can't live in a rental that previously had animals, particularly cats. Dogs, I do not react to quite as strongly. I hope you find something that suits your needs.

Hah! The last time we looked for a home it was....pets? sure thing! drugs? parties? loud music? no problem!! Kids? Forget it!! No kidding....you would've thought we were bringing in Bengal Tigers, not three little kids. We we turned down from FOUR rental properties because of them (and it's not because they're bad kids..lol..the landlords never even met them!)

The no pets thing rears it's ugly head far too often. I once lived in a 2 bedroom duplex that next door in an identical duplex there were 2 adults and 10 kids...kid you not.

Ugh, so true. We moved from a house with yard on the west coast to the east coast and had the WORST time finding a place that would take our furballs. One realtor actually suggested we just get rid of a cat or dog. I was like "um...we did not schlep our dear sweet pets 3,000 miles across the country just to dump them!!!!!" I couldn't believe they thought that was an actual option. We found luck with rentals-by-owners instead of going through a realtor. And we have quite the menagerie...2 indoor cats and 2 small (15lb) dogs! What can I say...I like things in pairs. Oh and if they had a weight limit such as "ONLY ONE DOG MAXIMUM OF 70 LBS" I would just point out that all of our pets combined weight is less than that so it's really just like having one 60lb pet...