[volleyballgk]

Originally Posted by Mycathinks hesadog

To the OP, you are right to ask, but you're asking the wrong question. I would ask "Are there any animals you do not allow in your apartments?" I think the way you're phrasing it is putting people off.

Look at it this way: My insurance, though not breed specific, does not allow one to keep "dangerous dogs." When my agent stopped by prior to writing our policy, he met the boys, and despite being hit with a few licks and wagging tails, decieded that niether was dangerous, and proceeded with the policy. Not to sound deceptive, but I never told him that was a pit bull licking his hand.

Motebi also has some good advice. CGC and service status are great tools to combat breed discrimination.

Thanks! Your right that is a very important distinction between the two phrases. We'll try that. I know CoCo isn't CGC certified and I know she won't have time to do it before she finds a place, but I will suggest she enrolls her so that at least she can say she is training.

[naoki]

It’s sad but very true that many people don’t react in positive way when they hear pitbulls. It’s also true that some insurance companies don’t offer home insurance to homeowners who have pitbulls. When we got our house, (last Nov) our insurance agent lady actually asked if we have a dog and we said no. (Lennox came to us in January) She also asked us if we plan to have a dog and if so, what type of breed. We said we will and it’ll be a mastiff breed. Basically we didn’t say it will be a Tosa-inu which is called Japanese mastiff by some people. We certainly didn’t say it was originally bred for fighting in their native country of Japan.
Anyway, when I mention the word “pitbull”, she didn’t show me any good impression but concerned face. She didn’t say much more about it but I knew she would have said something if we were to have a pit.

It seems many pits owners on this forum seem to be very educated and know about the breed pretty well but many other pits owners in my neighborhood don’t seem to have clue. They let their dogs whatever they want. They are not aggressive but have no discipline or manner they need. One guy who brought his pit in the dog park last weekend was so irresponsible. His dog was a big pit, looked about 80~90lBs and full grown adult male dog. He was all over the place and bothering every one of dogs in the park. He was not aggressive but try to mount of everybody and dominate everybody. The owner saw what he’s doing and didn’t correct his dog. He was actually ignoring his dog and reading some magazine. I really think those irresponsible pit’s owners are giving the breed a bad rep.

-naoki

[Mycathinks hesadog]

Originally Posted by naoki

It’s sad but very true that many people don’t react in positive way when they hear pitbulls............
............... I really think those irresponsible pit’s owners are giving the breed a bad rep.

-naoki

Yeah this is very sad but true. In my neighborhood I see easily a dozen other pits while I'm out on my walks, though very rarely do I see them walking as well. They are usually tied up or in a fenced in yard, and I just hope they're getting the care/excersise they need. I also hear alot of hootin' and hollarin' about how "cool ozzie looks", and "I want a dog like that one," and I hate to sound skeptical, but I think its the typical my-dog-is-a-status-symbol syndrome. Don't get me wrong, I'll always be freindly and cordial, especially w/ BSL looming in our area.

Not to go too off topic, but at the HS Walk for Animals two weeks back, people were astonished I'd bring ozzie to a place with so many other dogs. Most people were pleasantly surprised as he was on his best behavior, but I did get some really nasty looks. Oddly enough, out of 3000 participants, I think I saw maybe a half dozen pits and thier owners. I guess it is odd, becuase there's easily a dozen pits just in my neighborhood.

[volleyballgk]

I agree Naoki. So many dog owners, not just pit's but all breed's, give responsible dog owners a bad name. I tried to take Payton to watch my SO's baseball game the other day at a city park. He is well behaved and I had him on a leash. We got half way to the field and a city worker stopped me and told me they had made a no dog rule at that park becuase people were being irresponsible with their pets and not cleaning up after them and letting them wander all over the place. I understood but it made me mad that I couldn't have Payton with me becuase of some other idiots mistakes.

And what is so funny about CoCo is she is very small (I mean like the size Lizzy was) and she doesn't have an aggressive bone in her body. She doesn't look or act like what most people sterotype as "typical pitbull look/behavior". If it wasn't for her face I think we could pass her off as a whole different breed altogether.

[SpudFan]

Uugh I have the dubious distinction of having a house next door to me that is rented out and I can say in the 6.5 years that I have lived there that peoples pets have consistently been a pain point so I understand why many landlords are strict about the conditions under which they will enter a lease.

With regards to the renters insurance sweetening a deal I am surprised that it is not a condition of the lease (it was for the house we rented in our first year here).

Adding to my original post I think the biggest thing to do is to ensure that your dogs are well behaved and quiet and do not get into any altercations or create a problem with any of the neighbors. I know that I am not a fan of the renters next to me having dogs as based on my experience there is almost always going to be a problem at some point in time.

Unfortunately most renters don’t care as much as home owners in the area. They typically don’t have a vested interest in the property or the neighborhood. To give you some context I don’t even deal with the renters next door any more. If I have an issue I have my lawyer contact the landlord. Now granted this does suck for the renters in some cases but I have just had to deal with too many “bad eggs” to have the time or patience to try and deal with them directly.

Anyway I know this might come across as a bit of a rant but I think this is the other side of the argument that many landlords have to deal with.

[ACampbell]

Originally Posted by SpudFan

With regards to the renters insurance sweetening a deal I am surprised that it is not a condition of the lease (it was for the house we rented in our first year here).

In all the places I have lived (and that's been quite a few, 15+) this is the first place that has ever even been remotely interested that I carry insurance. I think it depends on where you live, I'm sure it's more prevalent in a large city and surrounding cities than it would be in say, a very rural area.

[volleyballgk]

Originally Posted by SpudFan

Uugh I have the dubious distinction of having a house next door to me that is rented out and I can say in the 6.5 years that I have lived there that peoples pets have consistently been a pain point so I understand why many landlords are strict about the conditions under which they will enter a lease.

With regards to the renters insurance sweetening a deal I am surprised that it is not a condition of the lease (it was for the house we rented in our first year here).

Adding to my original post I think the biggest thing to do is to ensure that your dogs are well behaved and quiet and do not get into any altercations or create a problem with any of the neighbors. I know that I am not a fan of the renters next to me having dogs as based on my experience there is almost always going to be a problem at some point in time.

Unfortunately most renters don’t care as much as home owners in the area. They typically don’t have a vested interest in the property or the neighborhood. To give you some context I don’t even deal with the renters next door any more. If I have an issue I have my lawyer contact the landlord. Now granted this does suck for the renters in some cases but I have just had to deal with too many “bad eggs” to have the time or patience to try and deal with them directly.

Anyway I know this might come across as a bit of a rant but I think this is the other side of the argument that many landlords have to deal with.

I understand your view point as well. I have rented for the last 7 years and while I have excellent renter's history I've had to deal with people next door who are just impossible. Also, I have several family members that own rental properites and we've had to deal with bogus renters before. I view both issues in a similar light: that is all the rotten eggs ruin the cookie batch for the rest of us.

A prime example is the house I just moved into. My grandfather owns it and was previously renting it to my Uncle's girlfriend's son. My Uncle died, one thing led to another (loooonnnngggg story!) , and he decided that he wanted me to live there so someone "within" the family would be in the house. He gave the renter's over a 30 day notice and offered to give them excellent references. What did the renter's do? Refuse to move out, cost us hundreds of dollars in lawyer fee's, and made us go through the eviction process although they left before they were actually evicted. They trashed the house and purposefully ruined the property. On top of all that they had two pitbulls that they TRAINED to be aggressive and kept tied to the front door so my family couldn't get close to the house. The dogs eventually ended up biting several of the ranch workers. I don't know what happened to the dogs. One day the renter's and the dogs were gone. However, they also abadoned a cat that I have now adopted. These are the exact kind of people that purpotrate the negative sterotypes of the pitbull breed and pitbull owners. I just feel sorry for the dogs, where ever they are, and I hope that they somehow find a better life than the one they were forced into.

[ACampbell]

Agreed, bad renters ruin it for all of us. Not even being breed specific, but I think a lot more landlords would be likely to rent with people with dogs if the people who owned dogs would be more considerate. Such as, if your dog pees on the carpet, clean it up, don't let it stain it or ruin walls/paint/woodwork - if your dog chews it up, fix it, have it fixed, or pay for it - and needless to say, if your dog poops on the lawn, clean it up!

If more people were good renters and responsible pet owners - the people who are good renters and responsible pet owners wouldn't have such a hard time. Just my theory though!

My oldest son (4 yr old) flushed a large Lego down the toilet...clogged it and backed it up. We spent all kinds of time trying to unclog it, even used a snake, couldn't get it...
When I told the manager here what had happened he said I might have to buy a new toilet if we couldn't unclog it - I said "No problem" because that's what being responsible is -
I personally did not flush the lego - but I am still responsible for my childrens actions! Same thing goes for pets.

(Luckily once the toilet was removed, with hubby's help, the offending lego was removed without charge because there was no damage)

[SpudFan]

I agree with you about being considerate.

The big deal breakers for me are renters dog messing/ trespassing on my lawn, noise, trying to bark at/ get at my dogs through the fence or wondering of their property. Fortunately with the towns leash law and pet ordinances these are all really easy to have enforced.

[ACampbell]

Where I'm at, nobody really messes with the dogs when I put them outside on their tethers (since I don't have a fenced yard anymore) but I imagine if I left them outside for very long they might. I also find random dog poop in my backyard area that I have to clean up (since it's on my area) that's frustrating! I don't let my dogs poop on my neighbors backyard area...

[SpudFan]

The only method that I found that actually produced results with dogs messing on the lawn with the rental next door was to go after the land lord directly and not waste time with the tenants.

Essentially the lawyer had to put him on notice that each time it happens he will be sued for the value of having someone come out to clean it up.

[ACampbell]

Yeah, nobody but the property owner really cares around here...he complains but since he doens't live close he can't tell who is doing it...so it's a no win anyway.

[melgrj7]

Refer to the dog as a staffordshire terrier mix, not a pit bull, sometimes that helps. Also, contact your local humane soceity or spca and ask if they have a list of pet friendly apartment buildings/landlords. That is how we found our place. We don't have a pit bull, but we do have 2 large dogs. Before you bring up the dog breeds, mention renters insurance.

[Love Nugget]

I have no experience with this, but I would go with some creative but honest answers if there is *no* other option.

Them: What kind of pets?
You: Two dogs, one weighs 15 pounds [Sorry, not in the know on Min-Pin weights.] and the other weighs 40 pounds.
Them: Hmm... What breed?
You: A Min-Pin and a Terrier.

"Min-Pin", to anyone who knows dogs would obviously be a Miniature Pinscher, but sounds cute and trendy to those who don't. And calling a pit bull a terrier isn't a lie. Also, if the dogs aren't registered, you could probably get away with calling them mutts.

If possible, include their full breed names in the terms of the lease/rental agreement so they can't go back and say, "That's a pit bull!" without you at least being able to counter that they agreed to house your Staffordshire Terrier, whatever their stance on pit bulls may be.

[zimandtakandgrrandmimi]

there is a genetic test that supposedly says what breeds your dog is. bolo came back 45% boxer and then like 20 different tiny percentages of other breeds.
ask your vet.


they asked me "what breed of dog?" I just handed them the test results and they never questioned it.

[B-Line]

I don't think everyone is being entirly fair.

1) I do not suggest lying, stretching of the truth or trying to deceive a potential landlord. Yes, it may make things more difficult for the owners of specific breeds, but landlords do have the right to restrict breeds and dogs in general.
so rather than trying to sneak your dog in. Find a place that happily accepts them. If you can't easily find a place, I'm sorry, that's just too bad, keep looking.

2) There are many states, cities, towns, etc. that have breed specific laws. Even though the laws are never enforced, they are still on the books. A landlord could have a ton of potential liability regardless of renters insurance, if there are laws on the books. They also still have liability even if those dogs are not illegal. We do live in a litigious society.

3) If I were renting an apt., even though I love most pits. I would not allow them either. Sorry, but in a market where there are plenty of potential renters, if I had to pick between two potential renters, one with a pit and one with a shitzu, it's a no brainer.

4) It's much easier to say "no" to someone, than it is to get someone who has already been accepted and living somewhere, evicted. And once you let in one pit, you have to let in every pit. Otherwise, it's just not fair.

And these are absoulety circumstances that everyone should be considering when they adopt a pet. Where am I going to live? Might there be any problems? What adjustments might I have to make in my life if I have a dog and what adjustments might I make in my life if I have a dog that is considered to be a "dangerous breed" regardless of how sweet, mine is.

Respect the rights of the landlords in the same way you expect them to respect your rights as a tenant.

When I lived in NYC, it was very, very hard for me to find any place that would take a dog. And when I did, it was a fortune.

B

Oh yeah, one more thing. One I first got my 12 year old dog, in 1997. I was renting an apt. with a place with a no dog policy that was not enforced. Then, management changed and they refused to renew my lease cause of Nikita. I was pissed, annoyed, etc. But they were plenty within their rights. I had to move far away in a place I didn't love and it sucked, but I had no rights, not even grandfathered in. But that's life.

[zimandtakandgrrandmimi]

fact is folks: unless there is a multigenerational verifiable pedigree involved no one can say your dog is or isn't pit bull with any certainty. a signed statement from a vet or dog specialist stating the dog is a mutt of unverifiable origens is usually enough. it's not lying if your dog has no pedigree. you don't know the dog is even part pit bull. there is a whole slew of breeds physiologically similar to the pit bull and you cannot say for certain which bulldog or bull and terrier or even hound mix the dog is. a dog could look exactly like a pit and have twenty or thirty breeds mixed up in it's genetic blueprints.

Originally Posted by Mycathinks hesadog

Not to go too off topic, but at the HS Walk for Animals two weeks back, people were astonished I'd bring ozzie to a place with so many other dogs. Most people were pleasantly surprised as he was on his best behavior, but I did get some really nasty looks. Oddly enough, out of 3000 participants, I think I saw maybe a half dozen pits and thier owners. I guess it is odd, becuase there's easily a dozen pits just in my neighborhood.

most people I know are afraid to bring their pit bulls out in public. not because of what the dog might do nessecarily(although it is different for pit owners like me with DA dogs) but because of peoplezs reactions. you never know when someone's going to start with the "omg! that PIT BULL bared his teeth at me!" when the dog was just yawning....

[ACampbell]

I make sure to walk Smokey where the entire town can see him...I just don't care. He is very well behaved and very friendly (all the kids in the neighborhood pet him) and most think he's a pitbull. If your dog can't behave don't take them in public and add another black mark to the breed, but if they are good, have at it

I just hate when places say they allow "all dogs" and they see your dog and it's an automatic "HELL NO" just because of what they look like. I told one company that is considered false advertising and since I'd already paid them money and they'd accepted it from me I told them I was within my legal rights to sue them since they were the ones that backed out of the contract...
They were trying to keep a rather large dog deposit, otherwise it wouldn't have been an issue...but the principle is that they tried to rip me off for about $500.

I hope the OP can find somewhere that is truly PET FRIENDLY...

[zimandtakandgrrandmimi]

Originally Posted by ACampbell

I make sure to walk Smokey where the entire town can see him...I just don't care. He is very well behaved and very friendly (all the kids in the neighborhood pet him) and most think he's a pitbull. If your dog can't behave don't take them in public and add another black mark to the breed, but if they are good, have at it

I just hate when places say they allow "all dogs" and they see your dog and it's an automatic "HELL NO" just because of what they look like. I told one company that is considered false advertising and since I'd already paid them money and they'd accepted it from me I told them I was within my legal rights to sue them since they were the ones that backed out of the contract...
They were trying to keep a rather large dog deposit, otherwise it wouldn't have been an issue...but the principle is that they tried to rip me off for about $500.

I hope the OP can find somewhere that is truly PET FRIENDLY...

I tend to try and get bolo out as much as possible to do breed pr because she IS DA. I can handle her issues and I can show people the difference between dog aggression and human aggression. how she will lovingly accept and give affection, turn her head and menace another dog and then turn right back all doggie smiles.

she is extremely well behaved on lead. she is never off lead in public. I try to explain to those who show ANY interest. it's still depressing....

[ACampbell]

Smokey is not DA...he plays at the dog park etc. If another male comes up and jumps on him and starts a fight, it's game on though. I don't call that being DA, that's being defensive. I wouldn't expect him to just sit there and take a butt whooping and do nothing (any dog for that matter) but he won't instigate the fight.

Back to the topic, what kind of luck has the OP had so far?