Reservoir dogs

Renting With Pets
By dan the roommate man, Fri Dec 9th


It's disappointing when the only thing holding someone back fromthat perfect apartment is a "no pets allowed" clause. Ratherthan going through the extra effort of finding a rental unitwhich fits their personal criteria and accepts their pet, somepeople think they have no other choice than to leave Fido orFifi behind. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) hascreated a web site dedicated to easing the difficulties offinding a great apartment that will welcome both you and yourpet.

According to the Humane Society, 'moving', and 'the landlordwon't allow' are the top reasons given by pet owners whenrelinquishing their dogs or cats to animal shelters. BrookeCounty Animal Shelter puts anywhere from twenty to thirtyanimals to sleep per day. "It's not something we enjoy. We tryto save as many animals for as long as we can, but we can onlydo so much," says one employee.

Making an extra effort to find a place which will accept youalong with your pet may be time consuming, however, HSUS pointsout the benefits of pet ownership:



# Pets provide companionship. There are few things moresatisfying than the attention and affection of a good friend.Wagging tails, contented purrs, and adoring looks are all wayscompanion animals communicate with people and demonstrate theirdevotion. Many people talk to their pets and consider themmembers of the family.

# Pets give us someone to care for. When you add


up the smalldaily acts of caring for a pet - feeding, grooming, exercising -the sum total is a pet owner with a feeling of being needed.Having that sense of purpose and responsibility is a valuablelearning tool for children and can help fight loneliness,boredom, and depression, especially in the elderly or sociallyisolated.

# Pets help people be more sociable. People out walking theirdogs have a greater tendency to socialize with passersby; theirpets give them security and provide a ready-made topic forconversation. Even among families and friends, pets provide afocus of conversation and activity.

# Pets stimulate exercise. Pets promote vitality through activeexercise - such as brisk walking and outdoor games - or therapyfor disabled hands through regular grooming of pets.

# Pets comfort with touch. The gentle stroking of a pet canreduce stress and lower blood pressure and, when combined withquiet talk, create a feeling of relaxation, intimacy, andcloseness.

Hoping to reduce the number of animals unnecessarily put tosleep, the Humane Society attempts to bridge the gap betweenreluctant landlords and pet lovers by addressing the needs andconcerns of both parties. Visit the HSUS web site at:http://www.rentwithpets.org/

Also See: # Moving Your Pet # Pet Policies: Pleading Your CaseSuccessfully # Are Your Pets Soiling Your Chances of SellingYour Home?


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About the author:Since 1989 dan the roommate man has helped 1000's of people findroommates. Need help? Contact him at 800-487-8050 orwww.roommateexpress.com


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