One of the most common reasons we get when someone needs to surrender their pet to us is "I'm moving and I can't take my pet with me". This is a situation that frustrates me and one I cannot understand under most circumstances.
One of the reasons this bothers me so much is because I have recently moved to Lynchburg from Blacksburg and I know how stressful moving can be and when you add the fact that you have to find a place that will allow your pets it becomes even more stressful. My dogs aren't small (85 lbs and 50 lbs), so the weight restrictions that a lot of rentals adhere to was another challenge in my moving venture. But after spending some time researching, and making dozens of phone calls and emails, I was able to find a pet friendly home. If I wasn't able to find a pet friendly home in Lynchburg, I would have looked into rentals in the surrounding areas. I was willing to be "inconvenienced" to be able to keep my dogs with me. I must say that it shouldn't be this hard to rent a home just because you have pets. I think the landlords need to take into consideration that their are responsible pet owners out there and review each renter on a case-by-case basis. And they need to rethink their weight restriction rules because you can have a small breed dog that does more damage than a large breed dog.
Here at the Humane Society when we hear that someone has to surrender their pet because they are moving, a lot of times it is because they have a breed that is considered aggressive, such as a pit bull. Many rentals have breed restrictions that don't allow pit bulls as well as some other breeds. But there are places that allow these breeds, and with a little research, patience and a willingness to be a little inconvenienced for your pet, you can find a place. When becoming a pet owner of a breed like a pit bull you have to acknowledge that you will have additional responsibilities, but I will save that topic for another blog.
One of the other things I have a problem with is the extra deposits and increased monthly rent that landlords require when you want to rent with a pet. Sometimes people have to move and they cannot afford the hefty deposits and fees required. This can become a terribly heartbreaking situation that warrants bringing your pet to the your local animal shelter.
When I became a dog owner, I also took on the responsibility to insure my dogs always had a home with me. Is my situation ideal? No, my husband and I live in a two-bedroom apartmetn with two big dogs that were used to having a yard to play in. Since they can't be exercised in the yard anymore, we have to walk them several times a day. But my dogs are happy and I am happy because they are with me and I wouldn't have it any other way.
With a little bit of research and some hard work, there aren't many situations that warrant surrendering your pet because you are moving.
One of the reasons this bothers me so much is because I have recently moved to Lynchburg from Blacksburg and I know how stressful moving can be and when you add the fact that you have to find a place that will allow your pets it becomes even more stressful. My dogs aren't small (85 lbs and 50 lbs), so the weight restrictions that a lot of rentals adhere to was another challenge in my moving venture. But after spending some time researching, and making dozens of phone calls and emails, I was able to find a pet friendly home. If I wasn't able to find a pet friendly home in Lynchburg, I would have looked into rentals in the surrounding areas. I was willing to be "inconvenienced" to be able to keep my dogs with me. I must say that it shouldn't be this hard to rent a home just because you have pets. I think the landlords need to take into consideration that their are responsible pet owners out there and review each renter on a case-by-case basis. And they need to rethink their weight restriction rules because you can have a small breed dog that does more damage than a large breed dog.
Here at the Humane Society when we hear that someone has to surrender their pet because they are moving, a lot of times it is because they have a breed that is considered aggressive, such as a pit bull. Many rentals have breed restrictions that don't allow pit bulls as well as some other breeds. But there are places that allow these breeds, and with a little research, patience and a willingness to be a little inconvenienced for your pet, you can find a place. When becoming a pet owner of a breed like a pit bull you have to acknowledge that you will have additional responsibilities, but I will save that topic for another blog.
One of the other things I have a problem with is the extra deposits and increased monthly rent that landlords require when you want to rent with a pet. Sometimes people have to move and they cannot afford the hefty deposits and fees required. This can become a terribly heartbreaking situation that warrants bringing your pet to the your local animal shelter.
When I became a dog owner, I also took on the responsibility to insure my dogs always had a home with me. Is my situation ideal? No, my husband and I live in a two-bedroom apartmetn with two big dogs that were used to having a yard to play in. Since they can't be exercised in the yard anymore, we have to walk them several times a day. But my dogs are happy and I am happy because they are with me and I wouldn't have it any other way.
With a little bit of research and some hard work, there aren't many situations that warrant surrendering your pet because you are moving.
how very sad that dogs don't seem to have any rights anymore. And having to keep dogs on a leash is one reason why we are now overrun in our neighborhoods with deer eating our shrubs, flowers, etc. not to mention damaging our vehicles running across the roads.
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