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As I’ve stated many times before, I’ve been an animal lover for as long as I can remember. I began the process for adopting a dog and then a cat as soon as I knew I would be able to take good care of them.
I knew that my husband and I wouldn’t have the easiest time adopting a dog because we were renting an apartment. I thought it might help that our apartment was part of an actual house; our landlords were fine with most breeds of dogs and had their own cat.
Many rescues in our area, however, incorporated even more rules than not adopting to renters. They also tended to be wary adopting out to people under 25 years old, and people who did not have fenced-in yards. Now that I volunteer for a rescue I understand the concern; many people adopt pets without fully understanding the responsibilities animals entail, and soon they return the pets to shelters when they realize they can’t handle the added work.
We did eventually find a shelter that would adopt to us, and I’m glad we had the wait because we adopted Chihiro from an excellent rescue. They really worked with us to match us with the perfect dog, making sure that not only did we fit Chihiro’s needs, but that she fit ours as well.
If you’re a renter who is really dedicated to owning a pet, it is possible for you to do so. But there are some things you need to think about first. Unless you live near an over-crowded shelter that is desperate to find homes for its animals, you will likely have trouble finding a rescue that will adopt a dog to you. If you come prepared, however, you will vastly increase your chances of finding your new family member.
First and foremost, check your lease to find out what your pet policy is. Speak with your landlord, and get written consent from him or her to have a pet. Almost all shelters want that consent letter, so it saves time to have it prepared in advance.
When you’re reviewing your pet policy, check to see if there are any animal breeds that aren’t allowed in your apartment. Many leases have restrictions about the type or size of dogs and cats allowed in the building, so check that.
Even once you know what breeds you are and are not allowed to have, you should still consider narrowing down the types of dogs that you’re considering. If you’re in a rental situation where you are living in just one unit within a shared larger space, you should consider avoiding dogs that tend to bark a lot.
Many breeds of terrier and other smaller dogs are prone to constant yipping, which could cause problems if you live in an apartment complex or some other kind of shared space. We mentioned our shared space situation to the shelter from which we adopted Chihiro, so they helped us find a dog that wouldn’t have that problem.
Ultimately, most rescues will adopt to you if you convince them of your sincerity about taking care of your future pet. The workers and volunteers at shelters just want to find the perfect forever homes for each of their animals, so if you truly love and are dedicated to taking care of pets, they will see that and help to find you a perfect match.
Related Articles:
What You Can Do for Animal Shelters
The Animal Lover’s Alternatives to Owning Pets
What to Consider When Getting a Dog