Moving With Your Pet

Moving with your pet to a rental property? Below are resources to keep in mind while looking for pet-friendly housing that will help you and your furry friend start off on the right paw in your new home.

When looking for a house or apartment to rent, ensure that pets are allowed and if so, be sure to gather the following information:

Pet Profiles
  • What types of pets are allowed (felines, canines, aquatics, avian, etc.)?
  • How many pets are allowed?
  • Is there a maximum weight limit for pets?
  • Is there a minimum age requirement for pets?
  • Are there any breed restrictions?
Financial Requirements
  • Is there a refundable pet deposit?
  • Is there a monthly pet rent and does that increase for multiple animals?
  • Is there a one-time nonrefundable pet fee?
Create a Pet Resume
  • Include your contact information (first & last name, phone number, email)
  • Add photos that bring out the best in your pet and their basic information (name, breed, age, weight, spay/neuter status)
  • List training courses your pet has completed and a summary of their personality
  • Include a copy of your pet’s updated vaccination records as well as licensing and microchip information
  • Have references who can vouch for your pet (their veterinarian, trainer, pet sitter, boarding facility/doggie daycare, and past neighbors & landlords)
  • Can also include your pet’s exercise routine, bathing/grooming regimen, their behavior with other animals, and whether they’re crate trained

Sample Pet Resumes, fillable PDFs, and information about Understanding Your Landlord can all be found through Rentberry and Rent to Own Labs.

Tenant Rights
There are many resources available for rental facility tenants. If you feel you and your pet need assistance in your current housing, reach out to the following organizations:

Know the difference between a Service Dog, Therapy Dog, and Emotional Support Animal
Service Dogs are defined by the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) as dogs that are individually trained to perform specific, trained tasks to mitigate the symptoms of a diagnosed disability.

Therapy Dogs are dogs who do visitations to help spread cheer or help with a specific therapy as directed by a physician or therapist. They don’t have public access or access to “No Pets Allowed” housing.

Emotional Support Animals or Comfort Animals can be “prescribed” by a doctor or therapist but are not considered service animals by the ADA. On the state level, some states have housing laws that require emotional support animals to have access, but most don’t because they do not fall under the jurisdiction of the ADA.

More information can be found through Canine Journal.

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