You CAN move with your pet

“we ‘re moving”

Is the number one reason people give when they relinquish a pet. However, with a little time and effort, you can move with your pet. And when all they give us is their time and their love, we owe it to them to consider their needs when we move. After all, pets are a part of the family. And you wouldn’t leave grandma behind when you move, would you?

Even though moving with pets can be difficult, it can still be done. In the past, I have moved with both cats and dogs – one time I moved with 3 small dogs, and one pit bull – I KNOW it can be done! And here are a few things that you can do to make it easier to find housing that allows dogs/cats:

Check on-line for housing: there are many agencies on-line that make it easy to find pet friendly housing. There is a box for it right next to items such as one bedroom or two; or walk in closest; or washer/dryer in unit. These are basic necessities when looking for a new place – just like our pets should be.

Make sure that your pet is up to date medically. This means that you should make sure that all necessary vaccines are up to date. That your pet is spayed/neutered, microchiped, and licensed with the city. It is also a good idea to have your vet write a letter of recommendation saying what a wonderful pet you have and what a responsible owner you are for making sure that you pet’s medical needs are always taken care of in a timely manner.

Make sure that your pet has good manners: landlords are more willing to accept pets if the pet is friendly and well-behaved. Obedience classes are not only fun for you and your pet, but they also ensure basic manners. If you can, you should look into getting a canine good citizen certificate for your dog. It does require more training, but helps to show the dedication that you have for your dog.

Clean up after your pet: many landlords are afraid that dogs and cats will soil the carpet and will chew on the walls. Ideally your pet will be housetrained before moving into your new place. If not, you should look into crate training your pet. This will not only help reduce accidents, but will also keep your pet from committing any other destructive behaviors. Also, talk to your landlord about paying a pet deposit, and also offer to have the carpets cleaned every 6-12 months. And this goes without saying: clean up after your pet outside too. Landlords do not want to hear complaints from other tenants about your pet’s potty habits. If you have rented before with your pet, ask your previous landlord if he will write a letter of recommendation stating how your previous house/apartment was cared for.

Keep your cat indoors: If you have a cat, keep him or her indoors. Not only is it safer for your pet and the local wild life, but it also keeps neighbors from complaining to your landlord about your cat wandering.

Be honest: be honest with future landlords about what kinds and how many pets you have. Also, if your landlord does not allow pets, do not get them, or try to sneak them onto the property. This makes it difficult for them to trust you later on.