Research housing, rules before moving with your pet

By Ellaine Kiriluk

The Buddy Beat

Moving has become a more common occurrence in our lives these days. I had friends who moved from Omaha back home to Illinois with their 97-pound golden retriever. Although the company paid for their move, they still had to find their own housing. And because the move was sudden, they had to find temporary housing.

Like many families today, whether downsizing, moving because of work, or looking for another rental property, my friends faced the question, “Where do you start looking for a place to live when your uprooted family includes a large dog or other pets?”

The American Humane Association and the Humane Society of the United States offer strategies for renting a house or apartment when pets are part of your family.

If possible, give yourself at least six weeks before you plan to move to contact real estate agents and check ads.

The HSUS website has local humane societies that list animal-friendly apartment communities in their areas. This list includes doghouseproperties.com and apartmentguide.com.

The HSUS website also includes a state-by-state list: for Illinois it lists homeproperties.com and for Chicago, fidofriendly.com. Other resources for finding animal-friendly housing are community apartment guidebooks at the supermarket and local newspapers.

The HSUS suggests focusing on places that allow certain pets, e.g. cats or dogs weighing less than 20 pounds, or that don't say “Sorry, no pets,” with individual home and condominium owners being easier to persuade. Also, look for a rental community that specifies resident obligations for having a pet.

“Understand why many housing communities and private landlords reject pets,” notes the HSUS.

Landlords, housing managers, property owners or condominium association boards may have had legitimate and bad experiences with irresponsible pet owners — owners who had barking dogs, sneaked pets in, didn't safely confine their pets or didn't pick up their feces, or left ruined carpets and drapes when they moved out.

So, gather proof that you're a responsible pet owner. Be completely honest about the number, size and types of pets you have. The HSUS says the more documentation you can provide attesting to your conscientiousness as a pet owner, the more convincing your appeal to rent will be to your future landlord. Put together the following documents:

Ÿ A letter of reference from your current landlord or condominium association verifying that you are a responsible pet owner. (The American Humane Society suggests if you don't have prior rental history, or your credit is less than perfect, offer to negotiate an additional pet deposit.)

Ÿ Written proof that your adult dog has completed a training class, or that your puppy is enrolled in one.

Ÿ A letter from your veterinarian stating you have been diligent in your pet's medical care. Supply documentation that your pet has been spayed or neutered and vaccinated against rabies.

The HSUS suggests promoting you and your pet. Because responsible pet owners have to search harder for a place to live, they are more likely to stay put in their housing. You may offer to bring your pet to meet the landlord or property owner, or create a scrapbook and resume of your pets to show them.

When you have permission to bring your animal family member into your new home, sign a pet addendum to your rental agreement. According to the HSUS, “Comprehensive agreements protect people, property and the pets themselves.”

If your lease has a no-pets clause, it should be removed, or crossed out and initialed before you sign it. Discuss any pet-related fees, including a pet deposit you may be required to pay. This may or may not be refundable.

Both the HSUS and the American Humane Association note honesty is the best policy. “Don't try to sneak your pet in. Keeping an animal in violation of a no-pets rule contributes to the general inclination of landlords not to allow pets,” the HSUS site advises. “You may also be subject to possible eviction or other legal action.”

Looking for a new home for you and your pets is certainly a formidable task. But keeping them with you shouldn't be. Our pets are our family. They depend on us for food, shelter and love.

AdoptablesBentley is a male terrier/Corgi mix. He's about 2 years old.Jewel is a female boxer mix. She's about 3 years old and weighs about 52 pounds.#376; Contact The Buddy Foundation at (847) 290-5806; visit us at 65 W. Seegers Road, Arlington Heights; or online at thebuddyfoundation.org. 787787Jewel