During our visit I paid close attention to the cats - just thinking about how some people are cat people while others prefer dogs and how different it is being either pet's owner. I also noticed how destructive cats could be. Now, I am in no way slamming cat owners and cats - I love cats, I grew up with them and if we didn't have an allergic person in the house we would probably own a cat, but it did get me thinking about renting property and how often an apartment is advertised as pet friendly, but by pet friendly they actually mean cat friendly.
Why is this the case?
As a dog owner, moving is one of my biggest worries. I worry about finding a place that will allow me to keep my dog and what do I do if I can't find a place in time? I remember when we first moved to Cape Town how exhausting house hunting was. As soon as we mentioned our dog to an estate agent it was like a steal gate slammed down along with comments like, "well, that just narrows your options right down" or "we don't have ANYTHING pet friendly like EVER". We absolutely lucked out with our current place just as I was about to enter a state of complete hopelessness. The only reason we called to look at the house is because we saw the current tenant’s dog in one of the photos they posted of the house.
We looked at places in and around the city and if it wasn’t extremely limited pickings, it was way out of our price range. This being said, I often drive through the city or past De Waal Park (the local dog park) and I can’t help wondering where all these people live with their dogs? Sure, a large amount of those pet owners own properties close by, but I see more and more people my age with dogs – and some are big dogs at that- and I assume they live in rented apartments or smallish houses with their dogs.
Why are dog owners being denied rentals?
Sure, dogs can be just as destructive, and more so than cats, but dogs offer many benefits too. Dogs are easily trained and are often quite happy sharing small spaces with their humans provided they get enough exercise and stimulations (walks, parks etc.).
Dogs act as a form of security – especially when you live in a country like SA where crime is very much a part of our daily lives, whether they are protecting your property or accompanying you on your daily walk/run.
Just like cats, dogs easily be trained in the artful skill of private time and when to have it. All you have to do is be responsible for picking up what they leave behind, which you are probably already doing when visiting a dog park.
All of this said, most people still find looking for a dog friendly place in Cape Town a huge hassle.
The sad reality is that, in a city where unwanted dogs are already a big issue, even more dogs are being forcibly put up for adoption or euthanized due to the lack of affordable, dog friendly properties. I recently read an interesting article on how landlords in San Francisco have come to compromise with pet owners on having dogs on their previous not pet friendly properties by setting up a special contract. These contracts include things like the landlord being allowed to meet the dog before they move in. In some cases the dog owners even show a resume of sorts with references from previous landlords and vet certificates etc. Other things like allowing the landlord to come and inspect the property on occasion in the duration of the lease can also be negotiated.
Knowing how hard this kind of house hunt can be, I though it would be helpful to post a few pet friendly rentals in and around Cape Town on our Facebook page so keep an eye out for that. Hope it helps!!
Licks and Kisses!
xxx
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