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All too often I hear about people giving up their beloved family pet because their landlord has implemented a new no-pets policy or because they’re moving into a rental apartment that doesn’t allow pets. Also, less frequently, I hear of landlords who allow cats but require them to be de-clawed.
Before accepting a rental policy that will cost your family, disrupt your life, and harm your pet, there are a few steps you should take.
know your rights
Did you know that as a tenant you have certain rights? Each area has its own rules and by-laws for tenants and landlords, but don’t just assume your landlord will follow those rules. Make sure you know your rights regarding your lease and your pets before being forced into anything.
For example, did you know that in Ontario your landlord can’t evict you or force you to get rid of your pet unless it’s dangerous, causes excessive noise, damage to the unit, or allergy issues? Even if you signed a no-pet lease, they can’t cancel you. Prohibition clauses are considered invalid under the law and you can only be evicted for owning a pet if the Landloard and Tenant Board of Ontario determines that the pet meets any of the above criteria. This means that while a landlord can choose not to rent to someone who has pets, Once you’ve started your rental and moved in, they can’t terminate you for pets.
Laws vary depending on where you are, but don’t be pressured into interfering with your life or that of your cat when the law may actually be on your side! be informed.
Don’t surrender, negotiate
If local laws don’t protect you and your pets, the next step is not to give up and give in, but to negotiate with and educate your landlords.
Most landlords who don’t allow pets or who require cats to be declawed have these policies because they’re concerned about property damage. Noise, allergies, and clutter in common areas like the lobby or front building can also be a factor.
As a responsible pet owner, it pays to educate your landlord about why these policies are misguided and unnecessary. If you can offer reasonable alternatives so your landlord feels their interests are being adequately covered, you may be able to persuade them to change their rental terms.
- Acknowledge their concerns. Be polite and reasonable, and let them know you understand their concerns and respect their desire to maintain a clean, undamaged building.
- Explain normal cat behavior. The people who create guidelines may be completely unfamiliar with cat behavior. Explain that cats can be easily trained to use a scratching post instead of a rug, and that cats instinctively prefer to bury their waste in clean litter rather than just dumping it somewhere. Explain that cats don’t usually scratch walls, doors, and trim, and that even an untrained cat is more likely to scratch the tenant’s furniture than destroy the apartment itself. Let her know that you will provide your cat with a clean litter box and suitable scratching surfaces.
- Let them know your cats are spayed/neutered. Explain that spaying/neutering will eliminate unwanted cat behaviors that they may be concerned about, such as: B. howling, marking territory with urine and feces, fighting, and luring stray cats into the area. Let them know that these behaviors are typical of intact animals and that your behavior has been corrected.
- assure them of that Your cat will always be in a carrier or on a leash when in a public area. Animals roaming free can be dangerous and annoying. Assure them that your cat is being kept under control at all times.
- Explain what declawing is and that it often leads to other undesirable behavior. Many people don’t understand what declawing is, and have no idea that it can lead to even more undesirable behaviors, such as: B. peeing outside the litter box. Make it clear that declawing is unnecessary and cruel and that if you’re concerned about the cat scratching, there are alternatives like softpaws [http://www.softpaws.com/]that you would like to use.
- Provide documentation to support your claims. Provide supporting evidence from reputable sources to support your statement. The Best Friends Network has many good resources for renters who need to decode: http://network.bestfriends.org/celebrateclawsnotdeclaw/news/16849.html. If your landlord requires declawing, talk to your veterinarian – they may be able to provide you with a document or letter supporting your anti-declawing stance.
- Offer to leave an additional deposit. Assure them that while your cat is trained and you do not expect your cat to destroy anything, should anything in the unit be damaged by the cat, you accept responsibility for repair or replacement. Show you mean business by offering a higher deposit.
- Remind them that a responsible renter is a responsible renter and that an irresponsible renter will cause problems even without pets. Your lease should already cover problem tenants, e.g. B. those that cause excessive noise, interference or damage to property.
- Offer to provide recommendations on how to draft a rental policy that allows pets but protects your building and other renters. If you can do some of the legwork for them and save them time and effort, they may be more willing to make changes.
your last resort
If your landlord is unwilling to listen or work with you and insists that you get rid of your pets or declaw, then you have a difficult decision to make. It may be time to consider moving to a more pet-friendly home, or if that is not possible, you may need to rehouse your pets. I don’t think decrypting your cat is an acceptable compromise.
Ideally, find a new property that allows pets on their lease. If not, privately owned properties may offer more flexibility than large landlords when it comes to pet policies. At the very least, you might find it easier to get access to someone who has the authority to make that decision.
If moving is not an option and you need to find a new home for your pets, do what you can to find a new home yourself rather than abandoning your cat to an animal shelter. All shelters have many cats and too few adopters, and your cat is at risk of being caged for long periods of time or of being euthanized if not adopted quickly. Use all the resources at your disposal – friends and family, community billboards, Freecycle (if your local list allows), and Craigslist. You’ll feel a lot better knowing your cat is going to a home rather than a cage, and you’ll have a say in the type of home your cat goes into.
Contact your local administrative agency that has jurisdiction over tenant and landlord laws, and lobby to have them create an bylaw that protects pet owners without compromising the safety and integrity of the landlord’s property.
By raising pets responsibly and proactively promoting understanding through education, we can encourage owners to establish proper rental policies and reduce discrimination against pet owners.
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