I wrote this article as a result of helping my mom move into an apartment in March.  It was the first time she had ever moved with a dog, our chocolate lab named Mocha.  She was coming from a 2.5 acre property, so the move was going to be big for Mocha.  We started out not really knowing what our options were, then once we learned what our options and started touring, we noticed that what I described as these five tips were really what helped us make our decision.  I figured it would be cool to share the information with others.     

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One of the biggest causes of pet abandonment is due to relocation and not being able to find pet-friendly housing.  It’s a stressful time for pet owners and they are sometimes put in that tough position of having to get rid of a pet. 
However, with enough planning, people can find not only dog-friendly housing, but excellent dog-friendly housing.
Here are five tips for finding an apartment that will make a great new home for you and your dog because the only criteria for choosing a home should not just be whether or not you dog will be accepted. 
5.  Doggy bags. Yes, doggy bags.
Those bags that apartments leave for residents to clean up after their pets aren’t found everywhere. 
Apartment complexes that provide doggy bags for cleaning up after pets is a good sign of a responsible management team.  This may not seem like a big deal, but it shows that the management is taking that small, but extra, step to make caring for your dog easier.
4. Natural Lighting
It may seem simple, but good natural lighting is important for an animal when they are routinely home for many hours a day. The lack of sunlight can even lead to depression.
 Consider how many windows will have a direct view of the sun. Corner units tend to have much better lighting. If you have the option to take a ground-level room whose patio is covered and shaded all day long or a second story apartment with an open balcony that is perfect for sunbathing, take the latter.
3. Search
With more apartments to choose from, the better the quality will be of the place you end up with.
There are several good apartment searching websites that will show you which ones are pet-friendly or not such as RentLingo.comand Rent.com. They aggregate listings from other sites and have options so that you can narrow down which sites are pet-friendly and which are not. Also, if you aren’t able to check out the neighborhoods, they feature maps so you can see how close an apartment is to the nearest park.
Also, apartments often limit the number of animals accepted and their total weight combined, so pet owners are often put into a tough spot of having to hide an animal. This tends to be a bad idea and can lead to extra fees and eviction. Hopefully, with enough options you can find a place that will fit you and your family. 
2. Location
How close is the nearest dogpark, park, or trail? Are the surrounding streets suitable for walking your dog?  Are they enjoyable for you?
Keep questions like these in mind.  No one wants their go-to walking route to weave between traffic-jammed intersections, grimy neighborhoods with the only available grassy areas being neighborhood lawns.   
1.  The Grounds
It’s two in the morning and your Aussie suddenly needs to pee.  So, you take her down the concrete hallway, down the three flights of stairs and to the bushes that are outside your apartment, except she can’t find the “right spot” because there’s nowhere to stand besides cement. 
You are going to want to choose an apartment property that properly fits your dog’s needs. Keep an eye out for apartments that have courtyards, their own dog parks, and are spacious in size. Also, try to get an apartment as close as possible to these places. You’ll be thankful later.  
Good luck relocating!





Written by Adam Busch,

Adam recently graduated from UCSC with a degree in Politics and writes in his spare time.  He’s grown up with several Labradors  (Jasmond, Diamond, and Mocha) and hopes to have his own soon.  

Mocha…

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