72% of renters own pets, yet difficulties in locating and retaining a place to rent are the number one reason dogs and cats end up in shelters. It doesn’t have to be this way. Pets are a part of every community and live in two-thirds of all American homes, yet renters frequently struggle to locate housing that allows them. Despite the claims of the rental housing industry, up to 78% of apartment buildings do accept pets. Why is there a contradiction?
Most of the nation’s dogs are excluded from “pet-friendly” rental housing because rental property’s pet policy usually has weight limits and breed limitations, effectively shutting them out. That isn’t at all “pet-friendly!”
Opening Doors to Every Pet is Beneficial for Company Growth
Rental housing that welcomes all cats and dogs, regardless of breed or size, will save hundreds of thousands of lives and ensure that no family ever has to choose between their pet and their home. And welcoming all pets is good for landlords too; when landlords accept all cats and dogs, their number of qualified rental applicants dramatically increases, giving them more options for finding great tenants. And those great tenants stay longer, keeping turnover costs low. That means fewer vacancies and lower administrative costs. We must address the reality that there are no disadvantages for housing dogs in an apartment community. Breed and weight restrictions are based on falsehoods and don’t improve resident safety or increase property values. The bottom line for property owners: Businesses that allow all cats and dogs are more successful!
