Frequent PCS moves affect every member of the family – including the furry, feathered or four-legged variety. Pets offer military families a needed source of love and support but can make the challenge of finding housing even more difficult. It is every military pet owner’s responsibility to give their pet the opportunity to be a good tenant. AHRN.com has put together 10 tips for renting with pets.
1. Begin with a Move In Plan
Moving is stressful for everyone. We can’t explain to our pets the why and where but we can take steps to make the transition as pain-free as possible. Keeping your pet’s bed or crate with you can help them to identify your new house as “home.” For dogs especially, a few days of doggie daycare or extra exercise on a leash or chasing a ball can offset nervous energy.
2. Make Good Behavior A Habit
Instilling good behavior in your pet as a habit will save wear and tear on your home – which your landlord appreciate! By preventing behaviors like digging, chewing, scratching and jumping with basic obedience, you lessen the chances of a behavior that could damage your home. A well behaved animal will also leave a better impression with neighbors and your landlord/property manager if they meet your pet.
3. Preventative and Prompt Vet Care
From fleas to stomach problems, there are any number of conditions that can be avoided or minimized with appropriate Vet care. Additionally, a history of prompt vet care and a reference from your vet can be wonderful tools if you are asking a reluctant landlord to take a chance on your pet.
4. Make Cleanliness A Priority
The impact of your pet on the cleanliness of your home depends on the pet. But you will never go wrong with making cleanliness a priority in the training and care of your pet. Ensuring cats have easy access to their litter box and dogs are completely house broken can save your security deposit and your home’s floors!
5. Know What they Need
Set yourself up for success by knowing what your pet needs to be happy and healthy. From a yard to sidewalks for walking to room to store a crate, why be fighting with your home? Although it can make the home search a little more challenging, it will be easier for you to keep both land lord and pet happy if its a good fit!
6. Manage Your Home
Being proactive in the management of your home will save time and money on your move out. Minimize the wear and tear on your carpets by having them shampoo’d every six months. Crate your dogs you are not home to prevent any boredom or anxiety behaviors. By addressing your pet’s impact on the home frequently, you will have less to clean up on move out.
7. Get To Know The Neighbors
It is likely that your home’s owners or landlord know your neighbors. Take the time to introduce yourself and your pet to your neighbors and foster a positive impression. They are the people most likely to complain about your pet. Keeping open lines of communication makes it more likely that they will address any concerns directly with you.
8. Have a Back Up Plan
Many of the most damage-producing situations involving pets happen when we can’t get to them on time for some reason or another. There are likely to be occasional times when you are delayed by work, flight times or any number of other potential scenarios. Plan ahead to prevent these emergencies by hiring an on-call pet sitter. Services like Fort Hood’s Ease My Mind keep a key on file and offer same day service – ensuring that your pet will be cared for even when life gets in the way.
9. Be Honest
The worst way for your landlord to find out about your pet is by accident or surprise. Be upfront with your landlord about your pet and prepared to pay any resulting security or damage deposits.
10. Plan Ahead
One thing we know for sure in the military community is that we will likely move again. Be prepared for the pet-friendly home search by building a pet resume. Put together training certificates, recommendations from vets and land lords and images of your pet. When working with a property manager or landlord, let them know that you are prepared to offer proof that your pet is a good tenant!
Ready to find your next pet-friendly home? Check the pet policy while building your profile at AHRN.com!
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