Comments on: Why Pets Are Better Tenants than Children

By: Carnival of Real Estate

Carnival of Real Estate — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:06:21 +0000

[...] Joshua Dorkin’s post, ‘Why Pets Are Better Tenants than Children’, on BiggerPockets, makes a witty and thoughtful case to rethink landlord discrimination against [...]

By: cloudy

cloudy — Wed, 07 May 2008 09:20:37 +0000

Pets are great. They are always pleased to see you, and cheer you up if you’re feeling down. A real tonic. If you love them, you put up with the mess or accept you have to clean up after them sometimes. A bit like children in that respect. But pets won’t let you down or dissappoint, take drugs or bleed you dry.
There are no bad pets, just bad owners, but it’s understandable that in some places they are not welcome. Our lives would be poorer without pets.

By: Joshua Dorkin

Joshua Dorkin — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:50:14 +0000

I’m confused, Teresa. Who are you calling a moron here? Seems like you’ve got some anger issues…. there’s no reason to be so nasty, regardless of who you’re talking to.

Thanks to all the others for your comments.

By: Teresa

Teresa — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:39:24 +0000

You are a total idiot. Cat piss can ruin any surface let alone you can’t get the smell out. You are going to compare animals to kids? Get a grip! I was looking for info on tenant law and came across this article, what a total moron you are. I bet if you had your way you would charge a kid deposit. If someone does damage the rental I am sure with a sufficient walk through before and after you will cover yourself. I hope you don’t produce any kids cause if you do if they spill anything on the floor you will probalby treat them like an animal.

By: Natalie

Natalie — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 05:53:36 +0000

It is a tricky situation and varies from tenant to tenant. I have a cat myself and the complex i am currently living in does not allow pets. Even in the owner occupied townhouses. It is the most stupid and outrageous thing i have ever heard of. When you buy a house you expect it to be yours to do what you want with. I have friends who have two very noisy dogs that have completely destroyed the yard of their rental property. It seems silly that they can get their dogs approved over me- with my very clean, non destructive, well trained cat. When i finally do become a Landlord i will be allowing cats, not dogs or children and any damage will be the sole responsibility of the owner. I think it is a bit silly that pets are generally not allowed, because just like children when well trained they are generally not destructive. Children are far more likely not to keep the peace between neighbours with all the racket they make on a regular basis- and the problem with them is, neighbours can’t complain about someones kid chucking 3 tantrums a day. I think Landlords in general need to loosen their stiff upper lip when it comes to pets- all tenants are required to pay bond and generally won’t want the place destroyed because after all, they have to live there too!

By: Nicole

Nicole — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 11:03:34 +0000

I found this page out of frustration. I’m having a lot of problems finding a nice apartment that will allow my 60 lb lazy dog. He has never done anything to any house or apartment we’ve lived in. My 3 year old daughter on the other hand… destroys anything and everything.

By: Claire

Claire — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 04:27:34 +0000

I absolutely agree with this article about discrimination. I am currently a law student and have studied landlord property law and think it is ridiculous that landlords are not allowed to say that they don’t want children living there, but yet many people discriminate against pets. I own my own home, am in my 20s, married with no children. I allow people to bring their pets here, but not children, because pets are more obedient, more loving and cause less damage to the objects in my house. True, dogs, cats and other animals can make noise or messes, but babies scream at all hours of the night and day. A 3 month old dog can be taught not to pee in the house, or to stop barking when told “No” but things like that take years for children to learn, and once they hit those teenage years, it’s like they’ve completely forgotten that the world does not revolve around them. A dog will never tell you he hates you, whereas you may care for a child for years, tend to his every need, allow him to take soccer lessons, give him unconditional love, but one day you will just not be good enough for him. That doesn’t happen with animals. Humans have to remember that they need to SHARE this planet with other creatures and no, we are not superior to them simply because we have a different form of intellectual thought process. You want to talk about who leaves a bigger mess? Look at all the pollution in the world and the problems with the ozone layer! Dogs and cats didn’t do that. There are hundreds of thousands of species and the one, count it - ONE, that has completely ruined this planet is humans. I’d rather have a dog living in my home ANY day. When comparing who is cleaner, quieter, more loving, more respectful, more obedient…..animals win, hands down.