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House for rent, there's only one caveat: “Must Have Dogs”
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Treasured k9s, a non-profit animal rescue
When Kristen Edmonds and her husband had to list their New Jersey townhouse for rent, it was a no-brainer. They would only rent to someone who had dogs. Edmonds, the President and Founder of Treasured k9s Inc., a non-profit animal rescue organization, as well as the Vice President of United Action for Animals, has up to five dogs at a time: four she calls her own and one she fosters.
Pets are being given up every day in America as families foreclose or are evicted from their homes. As a responsible dog owner, Edmonds advocates on behalf of people who have dogs and are forced to relocate from their home.
A new survey from Petfinder.com, a network of more than 12,400 animal-adoption organizations, finds that 84 percent of shelters and rescue groups are reporting pet surrenders because of the economic downturn, foreclosures and/or job losses. Meanwhile 74 percent of shelters around the country said they have seen an increase in pets being given away or abandoned since this time last year as a result of these economic times. As a result, many shelters and rescue groups are overcrowded and are being forced to turn pets away, elevating the problem further. According to the survey, 47 percent of shelters and rescue groups said the No. 1 economy-related reason pets are being surrendered is because of general financial difficulty; 18 percent said the driving factor was people having to relocate; and 16 percent blamed foreclosures.
This is exactly why Edmonds insists on finding a tenant with dogs. The statistics prove that current times are taking a toll on home owners and pets alike. To Edmonds, the tenant-jackpot would be a family with several dogs and the desire to foster more. While Edmonds relaizes she is not targeting the average pet owner, she would be content with any breed, size and number of dogs, so long as the owner is responsible and the dogs are well behaved. Edmonds’ townhouse even has a dedicated "dog room" with old carpet and the typical wear and tear from her own dogs.
Opening property owners’ and landlords’ doors to pets has long been a problem. According to DogLaw.HugPug.com landlords are not so inclined to rent to dog owners because dogs can cause serious damage to apartments and yards, they can be a nuisance if they bark and a menace if they bite or frighten people.
It is this exact stereotype and discrimination however, that Edmonds is working hard to dispel. “As a rescuer, I do not believe in breed discrimination or discrimination against the size or number of dogs,” said Edmonds. “Responsible pet owners can maintain their homes cleanly and ensure their pets are good neighbors,” she added.
Kathleen Mueller, a property manager and pet owner in Cape Cod, Massachusetts agrees with Edmonds when it comes to tenants and their pets. She has even considered launching a grass-roots campaign to make other landlords appreciate the fact that they can and should welcome pets.
There’s only one problem in filling Edmonds’ desire to rent her home to dog owners. The Coldwell Banker realtor who has listed her home doesn’t want to exclude potential renters who do not have dogs. This type of thinking, while rational, does not affirm the statement Edmonds is trying to make. The same way that property owners and landlords list homes as “no dogs allowed,” Edmonds is listing her home as “must have dogs,” and hopes that other property owner’s and landlord’s will follow suit.
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