[volleyballgk]

So yesterday I was calling a bunch of rental agencies and individual home owners because I am trying to help my mother in law find a new place to live. Since I've moved about 7 or 8 times in the last 7 years I was calling around because I'm much more familar with the rent process than she is. She has lived in her own home for the past 20 years and has a small minature doberman and the most goofy and loving pitbull I've ever met. The pit was the runt of the liter and probably won't get any bigger than she is right now which is about 40 pounds. Her tongue is permanently stuck outside of her mouth giving her the goofiest look and her greatest threat is licking you too much.

Anyways, as I was calling around one of the first questions I asked is if they accepted pets. If they said no, I thanked them and hung up. But most of the time this is what happened...

Me calling "hi, I was looking at ..... do you allow pets?"

The other person "well, what kind of pet?"

me "I have a small mini doberman..." I would say about 25% of the time I would get interupted right here and told no, they wouldn't rent to me.

If I didn't get interupted I would continue..." and a very small pitbull."

And that's when the fun all started. As soon as I said pit I would get a resounding NO. No no no no no! I even had one guy yell at me, tell me he had absolutley no properties that he would rent to me EVER and then hang up on me. He just went off on this rant yelling while I was sitting on the other side of the phone in stunned silence. Now I am not an idiot (most of the time anyways ). I knew we were going to face opposition from many agencies and individual landlord's because of CoCo's breed. But an overwhelming 100% no? I must have called over 50 places! I was hopeing to find at least some places that might consider her. Why is it that I forsee a pitbull being added to my pack while it's mommy goes and lives all by her lonesome?

So does anyone have any advice? Can you only be a pitbull owner if you own your own home? Short of lying about the dog and trying to hide her or giving her to me to keep what can she do? She loves this dog and does not want to part with her, but she also has to have a place to live.

[DOBERMAN_07]

Why did you disclose the breed of the dog instead of just doing this:

Landlord: What type of pet?
You: Dog

[volleyballgk]

Originally Posted by DOBERMAN_07

Why did you disclose the breed of the dog instead of just doing this:

Landlord: What type of pet?
You: Dog

I started doing that after the first few responses, but then they would ask what kind of dog. I would say a small dog. They would then ask specifically what kind of dog. And it would start all over again.

I know my previous apartment complex had a specific breed ban list. You could only have a dog there if they were not on that ban list. I had to convince them to take Lizzy becuase they thought that she was to similar to a pitbull breed and all pitbull types were on their ban list.

[Motebi]

Then you just say: Terrier. You wouldn't be lying, because don't a lot of people refer to them as "pitbull terriers" ?

[volleyballgk]

Originally Posted by Motebi

Then you just say: Terrier. You wouldn't be lying, because don't a lot of people refer to them as "pitbull terriers" ?

Possibly, but if they saw the dog later they could kick them out or force them to get rid of the dog if it violated their banned breed list. It might be worth a shot though. Personally, I've never owned a pitbull so I am not as familiar with the breed as I would like. I didn't even know people referred to them as terriers.

[loratliff]

They are NOT Miniature Dobermans... it's a Miniature Pinscher. Two entirely different breeds and whereas some apartments don't allow Dobermans, I've never seen one with a restriction regarding Min Pins.

[volleyballgk]

Originally Posted by loratliff

They are NOT Miniature Dobermans... it's a Miniature Pinscher. Two entirely different breeds and whereas some apartments don't allow Dobermans, I've never seen one with a restriction regarding Min Pins.

It's funny you say that. When I called the first couple of times I said miniature pinchers (sp?) and those people gave me all no's. So I started saying mini doberman's and most people were okay with that. Go figure I thought the same as you. That most people would be turned off by the "doberman" but it was the exact opposite. Guess I got in the habit since yesterday and continued to call them mini dobies. My bad.

[BobSD]

Her Dog is not a miniature doberman, it is called a miniature pinscher, not even related or has the disposition of the Doberman. As far as the pit goes I feel there is a movement to ban all breeds these idiots feel threatened by, and unless responsible dog owners unite, we are going to see a lost of many wonderful dog breeds. What is pathetic, this group of dog haters is far smaller then the dog lovers, and yet they are lobbying harder to get there anti dog agenda push forward and succeeding!

[volleyballgk]

Originally Posted by BobSD

Her Dog is not a miniature doberman, it is called a miniature pinscher, not even related or has the disposition of the Doberman. As far as the pit goes I feel there is a movement to ban all breeds these idiots feel threatened by, and unless responsible dog owners unite, we are going to see a lost of many wonderful dog breeds. What is pathetic, this group of dog haters is far smaller then the dog lovers, and yet they are lobbying harder to get there anti dog agenda push forward and succeeding!

Yup. Sorry about the miniature doberman mistake. She's owned doberman's in the past and I know better. Like I said above I think I just got in the habit since I said it about 50 times yesterday. I guess what really shocked me was how widespread the discrimination was. Not one single person I talked to was even willing to consider taking CoCo.

[ChrissyBz]

K, that Sucks. Here's wishing you luck in the search.

[Motebi]

You probably will have to change your strategy and insist that the landlord/lady meets the dogs first. Do they have a CGC or something like that ? That usually helps too. Another option: Try to join a local pet-therapy group with them. That should help as well.

[volleyballgk]

Originally Posted by Motebi

You probably will have to change your strategy and insist that the landlord/lady meets the dogs first. Do they have a CGC or something like that ? That usually helps too. Another option: Try to join a local pet-therapy group with them. That should help as well.

CGC?

Will try the meet first approach. Maybe once they see how small and sweet she is they will relent. Thanks for the advice!

[ChrissyBz]

Originally Posted by volleyballgk

CGC?

Canine Good Citizen.

[ACampbell]

I had the same problem when I moved from AZ to NY...most places wouldn't rent to me, and the few that would was because I "sweetened" the deal - informing them that I am fully insured with rental insurance (which includes damage done by pets and injuries that happen within my home) and would provide references for Smokey (to include my vet) Luckily, the man that owns where I live now is a dog lover (including any breed) and when I said "Uhm I have a bullmastiff, is this going to be a problem" he said "Nope I don't care at all as long as you have insurance to cover damages" - sold!
Your best bet is to try to steer clear of apartment complexes, no offense, but these seem to be the biggest group of @$$clowns I've ever met (and I used to work at one but we didn't allow pets of any kind so that cut that out)
Look on Craigslist and in the local paper for people willing to rent their homes or smaller "mother in law" apartments out - these people will be easier to deal with by far.
Most places ask what breed of dog, so there is no use in lying about it or trying to cover it up (then when they figure it out they can legally evict you in several states due to breach of lease) Some places have size only limitations so those are places to look also (most say under 25 or 50 lbs)
It took me 2 months to find a place that would accept a large dog (100+ lbs), let alone a "pitbull" since nobody seems to know the difference...and two dogs was a real challenge. But fear not, there's some people that still love dogs, no matter what they look like.

Hope you find something soon, don't get discouraged!

[volleyballgk]

Originally Posted by ChrissyBz

Canine Good Citizen.

Thanks Chrissy! Seems like my mental lapses today know no bounds!

Originally Posted by ACampbell

I had the same problem when I moved from AZ to NY...most places wouldn't rent to me, and the few that would was because I "sweetened" the deal - informing them that I am fully insured with rental insurance (which includes damage done by pets and injuries that happen within my home) and would provide references for Smokey (to include my vet) Luckily, the man that owns where I live now is a dog lover (including any breed) and when I said "Uhm I have a bullmastiff, is this going to be a problem" he said "Nope I don't care at all as long as you have insurance to cover damages" - sold!
Your best bet is to try to steer clear of apartment complexes, no offense, but these seem to be the biggest group of @$$clowns I've ever met (and I used to work at one but we didn't allow pets of any kind so that cut that out)
Look on Craigslist and in the local paper for people willing to rent their homes or smaller "mother in law" apartments out - these people will be easier to deal with by far.
Most places ask what breed of dog, so there is no use in lying about it or trying to cover it up (then when they figure it out they can legally evict you in several states due to breach of lease) Some places have size only limitations so those are places to look also (most say under 25 or 50 lbs)
It took me 2 months to find a place that would accept a large dog (100+ lbs), let alone a "pitbull" since nobody seems to know the difference...and two dogs was a real challenge. But fear not, there's some people that still love dogs, no matter what they look like.

Hope you find something soon, don't get discouraged!

Thanks for the idea on the renter's insurance. I'll be sure to have her mention that. I agree on the apartment complex's but one of the reason's I'm so frustrated is that 3/4ths of the people I called yesterday were individual landlord's renting their own house, etc. I thought at least a few would be open to negotiations, but it was a no go. I guess we'll just have to keep looking. I know there has to be some intelligent people left in the world somewhere.

[harrise]

Every place we've ever lived was "no pets". This cannot be done over the phone. You need to just setup times to look at the places and make them excited that you want the place. Only bring up pets at the very end of the face to face conversation. Hopefully that gives you enough time to build a bit of rapport. Also, changing voice tone to sound concerned adds to the emphasis. Usually takes us 2-3 meetings to find a place. Good luck though...

[ACampbell]

Originally Posted by volleyballgk

I know there has to be some intelligent people left in the world somewhere.

I wouldn't hold my breath on that one...


"Shooting them down" by acting really interested and only THEN bringing up the dog issue is always fun too...get them stoked that they might be renting their property...then when they say "no pets" or "No pitbulls" do a "well that's too bad then, thank you" and hang up...

This works great on homeowners :-) especially in rural area's that are hard to rent out.

Did I mention that the place I found and moved into is 30 miles from where my hubby works? Not always a lot of perks to finding somewhere that allows the critters...Oh and I also had to put down a $500 damage deposit along with my insurance info...

[RRM_Mom08]

I would definitly look into the renters insurance and possibly putting down a dog deposit ..those both might sweeten the deal to the owner

But I would definitly mention the dogs the the insurance ect after I looked and the home and had them out there.

[volleyballgk]

Good advice on putting off mentioning the dogs. I will pass along all the info to her. She already was planning on getting renter's insurance and putting a deposit down for the dog, but I'll tell her to make sure she mentions that before she mentions the dogs breeds.

[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.