Apartment Blog

During this holiday season it is important to factor in the safety of all of your family members; even the little furry ones! You’d be surprised what dangers are lurking for your family pet during this festive season. So to help out all of our pet-friendly readers, we have compiled a list of items to watch out for this year. A trip to the veterinarian hospital would not be a pleasant thing!

Ingesting items:
Everyone knows chocolate is bad for dogs. But did you know that onion, grapes and raisins are horrible for them too? Fatty foods like turkey skin or gravy is not good for their stomach and alcohol is toxic! And be aware of things they can get into and eat such as plastic wrap, toothpicks, napkins, disposable plates or flatware. Items likes these can definitely do some damage to their internal organs.  If you are traveling with your animal or having friends staying at your home, make sure all medications are put in a place where curious animals cannot find them.

Safety for your pet:
This is not only about the safety of your animal, but also safety for humans around your animal. A pet that lies down in the middle of the kitchen is an accident waiting to happen. Make sure all of the left-overs are properly sealed and stored away where counter surfers cannot reach.  If serving turkey, make sure the carcass is in a plastic bag and taken out of the apartment. You don’t want to leave it around where any animal can take interest. And be sure to tell your family/friends visiting that feeding your pet is not good for him/her.

And finally, make sure you keep your animals’ routine as normal as possible. If your cats are terrified of people, let them have one room (perhaps a bedroom) to themselves. Or if your dog doesn’t like to be pent up in the house for too long, take him/her out for long brisk walks (for small dogs make sure they are dressed accordingly). Since there will be people coming in and out of your apartment, make sure that your animal wears proper ID tags should they escape in the confusion.

Wishing you and your family, all of them, a very happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Pet owners of America understand the true meaning of ‘your pet is a part of your family.’ There’s no way around it, that dog or cat that you have included in your home is now like one of your children. And ForRent.com understands that too, because just like you, we are pet owners! Take a look at a few of our family members.

Bailey, Chihuahua, Male, 3 ½ years old.
This picture accurately portrays my Bailey. He is feisty and always ready for action. Contrary to the Chihuahua label, he is far from a prissy dog. With cat-like characteristics, he pounces on you or anything else that moves by.  He also likes to bark….a lot! But you’ll get no better security system, as he hears noise ½ a mile away! He his is father and I’s pride and joy; I cannot imagine life without him. -Gillian Luce
                 
            
          

Bailey, American Red-Nosed Pitbull, Female Almost 2 years old

Bailey is very high energy and would play Frisbee all day long if she had the opportunity. As a morning routine (if she’s not running around with a sock in her mouth) she has a tendency to put her paws on the bathroom counter and watch me as I am brushing my teeth. She loves being involved in everything, which includes licking anyone who comes within reach. Her charm is undeniable. Bailey transcends the stereotypes about Pitbulls on a daily basis! -Jessica Lambert
                   
                  

Cash, Rottweiler/Doberman Mix, Male, 1 year

Ladies. Hide your heels. Cash wants nothing more than to destroy them! A young pup, Cash loves to keep his mom on her toes! At nearly 100 lbs, his massive size is only trumped by the massive amount of love and affection he shows to others, whether he knows them or not, Cash never meets an enemy. His dark, shiny coat and smiling face is always a crowd pleaser attracting young and old, male and female who can’t help but pet this larger-than-life little love bug. In his spare time, Cash enjoys running around in circles and playing with his favorite chew toys! -Meredith Mobley

We understand how important it is to keep your family together, all of your family. So when you need to move, be sure to check out ForRent.com for pet-friendly apartments.

Summer is in full swing now! And it’s time to not only get yourself outdoors, but your pet(s) as well. We’ve put together a list of tips for you to follow to keep your pet safe this season.

1. Never leave your pet in the car.
2. Be on the look out for fertilizers and deadly plants.
3. Always have your dog wear a collar and identification tag.
4. Fresh water is a MUST for your pet while outdoors.
5. Think about the heat (especially with older dogs or dogs with longer coats).
6. Be careful of hot asphalt or cement. Dogs can blister just as easy as people.
7. Have your animal on the proper medication to prevent against fleas, ticks & mosquitoes.
8. Don’t forget sunscreen….for the animal! Light skinned pets will burn if they are outside long enough without sunscreen.
9. No ‘outside dogs’. It’s not healthy for your pet to be outside for long periods of time, even if there is shade. They can get overheated quickly.
10. And finally, just be observant of your pet. You will notice when they start to act differently and if they do, take them to the vet.

Everyone loves keeping their animals safe and healthy. They are a part of the family. So if you’re looking to move this summer, be sure to check out Pet Friendly Apartments on ForRent.com so you can bring all your family with you healthy & safe!

We posted a blog in August of last year, about how to ‘Find the Right Dog for Your Apartment Living‘. In it we provided some tips on what to consider before getting a dog, such as daily schedule, children, environment, etc. We cannot stress enough how important it is to be completely aware of all the information before deciding to care for an animal. So here are a few more tips before you bring Beethoven home.

Tip 1: Are there any size or weight restrictions on dogs within your apartment community? A majority of apartment homes allow dogs between 30-50 lbs. Very few allow those above the 50 lb. marker. So you need to take that into account before you go searching for your animal. I’ve also heard that in many communities prefer heavier dogs live on the first floor. So be sure to read your lease.

Tip 2: How much exercise does the dog need? This goes hand in hand with your daily lifestyle as we mentioned in our previous blog. Are you able to give a high energy dog the necessary attention and physical exercise it requires? Or would you prefer a low energy dog that could make due with exercise inside an apartment? Research various dog breeds to find out which would be most suitable for you.

Tip 3: Is the breed’s temperament a good match for you? The level of energy is an element in the breed’s temperament. A Chihuahua, for example, has a high level of energy and enjoys activities with its owner. However, other breeds are more mellow and would require less on your part to entertain. Again, research would need to be done to determine which breed is best for you.

Tip 4: Are you prepared for the costs of dog ownership? We touched on this in ‘Find the Right Dog for Your Apartment Living‘ but it deserves to be mentioned again because I cannot stress enough how important it is to be informed. Assume the bare minimum for owning a dog is around a $1 a day. So figure about $365 a year worth of expenses with food, vet visits, shots, toys, hygiene care, etc. that you would have to pay.

Tip 5: Have you considered what happens to your dog if you can’t care for him/her? A dog is a responsibility. He or she is going to be around for up to 15 years. Before you take on that responsibility, think about what would happen if you suddenly find you can’t take care of him/her. What would you do? Go to the shelter, find someone to adopt, what? If you know that taking on a dog is a responsibility and not something you can give back, then maybe you’ll be more aware of what’s in store.

The main reason why animals are brought to shelters is because people are not informed of the lifestyle change that comes with caring for an animal. They will require exercise, money, time, patience, etc. So do the research. You will be a lot happier loving a dog you’re ready for than saying good-bye to one you’re not.

During the housing boom, buyers were borrowing thousands of dollars to pay for homes on the market. However, in today’s economy, many of the buyers aren’t able to repay those loans due to rising interest rates, resulting in mass foreclosures. With foreclosures, many residents are forced to find alternative living arrangements, most often apartments to rent. Due to pet restrictions in apartment communities, pet shelters are seeing an increase in the number of animals being given up. Or worse, left on the streets.

ForRent.com doesn’t want to see anymore pets separated from their family. Pet owners needing to relocate can use our site to find pet-friendly apartments. With our easy search criteria, you’re sure to find an apartment in your area that accommodates you and your animal. Please visit ForRent.com today! Your pet is a part of your family and we want all of you to stay together.

If you’re renting an apartment with a pet, you realize some of the financial obligations you are faced with such as pet deposits, monthly pet fees, etc. But what you may not have taken into consideration is having a pet at the end of your lease could cost you a lot more if you aren’t careful. When most people put down a security deposit on their apartment, they usually expect to receive the full deposit at the end. However, pet owners need to be more proactive when it comes to caring for their apartment even before move-out if they want their full deposit back! Here are some tips for pet owners to getting your full security deposit back:

Tip 1:

Document everything. Prior to move in, or on the first day, have a checklist and go through the entire apartment for any problems. This would include the carpet, the walls, counters, etc. If the leasing office hasn’t given you a check list, bring your own. You need to inspect the apartment thoroughly and have documented proof of any incidents. This will help you prove your case should there be any discrepancies at the end of your lease, while also helping you remember the original state of the apartment. Also feel free to take digital photos and keep those for your records.

Tip 2:

Clean up spills/accidents IMMEDIATELY! Obviously if you’re not home when an accident happens you can’t clean it up as quickly, but as soon as you become aware of the mistake you need to clean it up. Use Pet Stain Remover and clean the area thoroughly. Remember that cleaning ‘accident’ spots only cleans the carpet, not the material. Get a vacuum pet powder and use it prior to vacuuming your carpets to help eliminate odor. Cat urine is absolutely the worst smell! I would recommend shampooing your carpet a couple times a year. It’ll add life back to your carpet!

Tip 3:

Be thorough! When you do your initial inspection you should catch any areas in the carpet where threads are loose or fraying. However, while you were moving or vacuuming, some may have ‘popped’ up. You need to inspect your apartment often for these problems as they could potentially be a larger problem if your animal, particularly dogs, find it. If there are any trouble spots in your carpet, purchase a rug to deter your animal’s attention or some object so that it won’t make the problem worse.

Tip 4:

Be proactive! You know your animal better than anyone else. If your dog likes to go after blinds, be sure and pull them up or replace them for curtains (just be sure to keep the blinds for when you move out as you don’t want to be charged for a new set). Or if your cat likes to use the sofa as a scratching post and transfers that habit to a wall; make efforts to block access to that wall or have your cat declawed.

In an apartment rental, you are responsible for damage your pet creates. To get your full security deposit back, you need to go above and beyond to restore the apartment back to its original condition! Do you have any more tips for getting your security deposit back with a pet? Let us know! We animal lovers can use all the help we can get!