Why Pet Owners Have Trouble Finding the Best Apartments in Dallas

Searching through the 3000 rental properties in Dallasexception in ONE case and let you slip by when they
can make it challenge for you to find the bestturned everyone else down. Perhaps you have 3
apartment for you and your pet.pets, but they only are Chihuahuas that weigh 3
Dallas was voted "Best managed large city in Texas"pounds each. If the property let you keep your 3
by Texas Business Magazine, and is considered apets, then they would have to let everyone with 3
"Global City", meaning that the city is significantpets become approved from that moment on, or
enough to effect global economy. Because of itselse it could be viewed as partiality.
relative economic stability, educational opportunities,3. The apartments in Dallas are also naturally
business frontiers, variety of cultural and socialconcerned about maintaining their property. This can
scenes, relatively low cost of living, and its goodalso present challenges to pet owners. Perhaps due
management, thousands of implants move to theto problems in the past with owners not picking up
Dallas Metroplex every year. Currently, the Metroplexafter their dogs, or complaints from other tenants
boasts over 6,000,000 in population. Just the city ofthat dogs left unsupervised were barking all day and
Dallas alone (not the entire Metroplex) has almost 1.3disturbing the peace, or perhaps because they
million occupants. Of those occupants, 52% of themfrequently encountered issues with cats shredding
rent instead of owning a house. Also, 356,326 ofcarpet or ruining the carpet by urination, they have
those households have either a dog or a cat. Thedecided not to allow any pets at all, under any
number of pet owners jumps up to 1,753,922 if youcircumstances. Then again, many properties realize
consider the entire Dallas Metroplex.that this would prevent them from being able to rent
With such a large number of renters in Dallas seekingto hundreds of thousands of pet owners in the city.
adequate apartment homes, and such a largeSo, they may decide to allow pets, but require
percentage of them being pet owners, the challengecertain protections, such as pet deposits in case of
often arises to find the best apartments in Dallasdamage, and limitations to the number of pets
that are pet-friendly. But why is this such a challenge?allowed, and enforce certain rules about picking up
There are several factors that can create a roadafter your pet. For pet owners who cannot afford
block for pet owners. Understanding the road blockspricey pet deposits, or even monthly "pet rent" that
will help you to overcome them:some properties have begun to charge, this can
1. Most apartment communities in Dallas are coveredpresent a road block.
by insurance policies that restrict what kind of pets4. Rental properties are also under the jurisdiction of
they are allowed to accept. Almost all insuranceany city laws that prohibit certain pets within city
companies ban breeds of dogs that are classified aslimits. For instance, in Dallas, any pet that is classified
"aggressive" and are prohibited due to the increasedas a "farm animal" would be prohibited. This would
risk of liability. These breeds often include but are notinclude pot bellied pigs, which have become popular in
limited to: Doberman Pinchers, German Shepherds,many other areas. Even certain snakes and reptiles
Chows, Rottweilers, Pitt Bulls, etc. Even if theare prohibited. Each city within the Dallas Metroplex
Manager of an apartment complex loves one ofhas its own laws, and the apartments within each
these breeds and would not mind allowing them oncity must uphold the requirements for those city
the property, her hands are tied by these restrictionslimits.
and she or he must abide by them.Because of these challenges mentioned above, it can
2. Dallas apartments also fall under the guidelines ofbe difficult for pet owners to find the best
Fair Housing Laws, which state that they cannotapartments in Dallas. Perhaps they own one of the
show preference or prejudice towards one personbreeds that most properties consider "aggressive". Or
over another. Therefore, if the property makes itmaybe they have more than 2 pets. Or perhaps their
their policy to enforce certain rules, such as only 2budget limits how much they can afford for a pet
pets are allowed per unit, or the pet must be 20deposit. Where are these pet owners to turn in any
pounds or under, then they cannot make anof these situations?