It’s the pet owner’s latest ploy in getting a lease that includes approval to keep a beloved pet.
In San Francisco, The Open Door Program was created to foster greater acceptance. A branch of The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the program offers these suggestions.
* Write a pet resume. Include the pet’s age, activity level, and breed traits. Highlight a history of good behavior. If a dog has been to obedience school or has special training, include that information. Include something outstanding about your pet, such that it is as unlikely to shed or slow to bark. Mention it if the pet has been spayed or neutered.
* Tell how often, when, and where you will take your dog for outdoor entertainment and relief activities.
* If your pet has lived successfully in an apartment, a letter from the previous landlord could help.
* Identify your vet and how often your pet is groomed, taken for shots, and how fleas are controlled. If it’s a cat, mention if it is indoor only and say that keeping litter clean is a priority with you.
* Include a photo of your pet and its name. Write a nice, heartwarming story about your dog or cat. One tenant explained that she was single and wanted kids, but the dog helps until the right man comes along.
Tenants working close to home find that a plus when convincing landlords.
For the elderly or disabled, there is a special clause in the Federal Housing and Urban/Rural Recovery Act, Section 227. “As a condition of tenancy or otherwise, no owner may prohibit or prevent a tenant in federally assisted housing from owning common household pets.”
Mark@hatszel.com315-729-7546
