Going to school with pets:

BodhiBird · Feb 5, 2009

I have a dog, cat, and 2 birds. I am beginning to get worried about finding a place to live when I move for vet school. I had these pets during college and afterward and did not have trouble with the pets, but I know it is can be challenging. I'm worried mainly about my dog, he is over 70 pounds and a mix with a lot of mastiff and boxer - breeds often frowned upon. Any advice?

Pandacinny · Feb 5, 2009

My sister and I have two 55-60 lb german shepherd mixes and it is really, really hard to find cheap places to live with them in the Baltimore area. I definitely understand how stressful this can be. Here are my tips.

First thing, try going with a private landlord. Most rental companies put massive restrictions on the number and type of pets you can own. Don't restrict yourself to just places that advertise as being pet friendly or allowing large dogs. Try other places, too. Go on tours/visits of the rental property and put your best foot forward. Once they already like you, ask them about their pet policy. If they're reluctant, a vet I know has had good luck with offering to pay more in rent than they ask every month (Say $100 extra or something) or agreeing to pay a "pet deposit" to be used for any damages they cause.

Also, offer to bring your dog in for a meeting first so your landlord can see how nice and well behaved he is. I've had good luck with that! Bring copies of your pet's rabies vaccine records with you and a letter from your vet saying how sweet and wonderful your pets are and what a responsible pet owner you are. If your dog's been through training classes and you have a certificate, bring that in too.

If they're worried about your pet destroying the carpet, tell them you'll pay to have the carpets professionally cleaned when you leave the property. Tell them they can write this into your lease, if they want. Also, if you're on good terms with your current landlord, you can see about using him or her as a reference or getting them to write a letter about what a great tenant you are and how your pets are never a problem.

I've heard of other people contacting a pet friendly realtor for help. That may be a good idea, too. Also, speak to students currently attending the school you'll be going to. They probably know of some good places to look.

Be sure to start looking early when you decide where you're moving.

sumstorm · Feb 5, 2009

'Official' stuff could help as well. If your insurance will provide you with liability coverage on your dog, that could be a BIG relief for a landlord (who could be sued if your dog ever hurt anyone, even accidently like knocking over a person that 'tripped' over him). CGC certificates can do a lot in some areas.

The other things would be to call vet clinics, trainers, shelters, stables, and other animal related businesses, introduce yourself as a student moving to the area in X and wanting a rental unit for X time, then ask if they know of anyone at all who might be able to help you. You may chase lots of leads, but likely to have more opportunities that way.

The longer you are willing to sign a lease for, the better your chances. So...plan on 4 years if at all possible.

Provide proof that your pets have been current on vaccines, kept on flea prevention, and is kept clean. If you do crate your pet, or use an x-pen, share that information. If you don't currently, consider it. Crating can make the difference (at least it often did in NYC.)

I agree with talking to realtors that are pet friendly. Some of them will know some great leads.

We plan on buying in the area, preferably a fixer upper that I can work on a few months before school starts to build equity. It is a good time for that.

BodhiBird · Feb 5, 2009

Those all sound like good ideas that I will definitely take up. I also like to think that being a vet student will have some weight to it. I mean, they have to know that a vet student isn't going to have a flea infested, mangey, diseased animal living in their building... right!? If I ended up getting a studio apartment I think I could hide the birds (?). But, I think it might be best to just to look for a group of people to rent a house from/with?

sumstorm · Feb 5, 2009

Just remember that hidden animals can be grounds for eviction in some places...plus potential lawsuits (it has happened before.) Also, if you can't rehome immediatly, the landlord can insist on it going to the county shelter. Having dealt with the massive damage done to our rental unit from animals, I understand land lord reluctance.

Better to find a suitable place. Remember that if you live with others, you have to be ok with thier animals as well (or potential future animals.)

BodhiBird · Feb 5, 2009

Yes, good points... ahh finances make things so difficult.

athane960 · Feb 6, 2009

We have moved around alot with our two labradors and what my BF and I find helpful is to ask for a letter of reference from the landlord when we leave a place stating that we were responsible pet owners, that they didn't tear up the house, they were not aggressive, they didn't run wild, etc. etc. We have 3 of these letters on file so when we go to a new place we always present them and they seem to help alot. We wanted so badly to rent our present condo, but the managment said they didnt allow dogs over 25 lbs. When we showed them the letters and I think they even called to confirm they allowed it. We have been living here almost 3 years now and the management always brings them treats and goodies when they are around. 😀

BR549 · Feb 6, 2009

What kind of birds do you have? Macaws, Amazons and cockatoos would be difficult to keep in an apartment setting because of noise. They can be extremely loud. My african grey is pretty quiet and I've never had a complaint about her from neighbors. So, I guess it depends on the species of birds you have as well.

BodhiBird · Feb 7, 2009

I have a green cheek conure and a bronze winged pionus. both species are known for their relative quietness, and my birds live up to their reputation.

I really want a studio apartment but they have weight limits on dogs, so I think I will call and just put my best foot forward and try to finagle something 🙂

BR549 · Feb 7, 2009

How do you like your Pionus? I was considering one at one time. I would like a white bellied caique(these birds are extremely quiet and little comedians; into everything!), maybe as a graduation from vet school present!😀

BodhiBird · Feb 7, 2009

I love my pionus. She is very sweet, although she absolutely hates my conure... and my dog and cat for that matter. She was actually a rescue from a hoarder with alzheimer's disease.

DocDVMD · Feb 7, 2009

I've heard horror stories about students bringing/getting a pet (namely, a dog) their 1st year and totally bombing school, causing them to give away their pet! Anybody have thoughts on this? I desperately would love to have the company of a dog during my vet school years, but I'm worried I just won't have time.

BR549 · Feb 7, 2009

DocDVMD said:
I've heard horror stories about students bringing/getting a pet (namely, a dog) their 1st year and totally bombing school, causing them to give away their pet! Anybody have thoughts on this? I desperately would love to have the company of a dog during my vet school years, but I'm worried I just won't have time.

One of the vets I worked for, had her dog all through vet school at Auburn and had to put her down a couple of years ago, due to health reasons. All of this to say, I don't think that there is a correlation between having a pet and bombing school (if this is what you are asking). I do, however, feel that you should maybe wait until you're in and see how everything is going before getting a pet. It would be unfair to get a pet and not have the time to spend with it. I think it depends on whether you are a good time manager or not.

I am personally considering adopting a Neapolitan mastiff, but think I'll wait because I don't know that I'll have time for her, and I'm not sure if I can find somewhere that'll let me have a dog of that size.🙁

BodhiBird · Feb 8, 2009

I agree. I brought one of my birds down to undergrad and then adopted my dog my 3rd year when i started work at a vet clinic, then i adopted my cat and other bird later. My performance in school wasn't affected by working or having a dog. I know he would prefer me not to be in school all day, but I know he'd rather deal with only seeing me a couple times a day for 4 years than the alternative. But, everyone is different. I'd probably do worse in school without a pet... especially my dog!

CatVet2Be · Feb 8, 2009

Ditto to what the previous 2 posters said. I really want to add a second dog to my menagerie so my girl has a playmate but I also want to be able to socialize it well. I'm probably going to wait until my 3d year just because I don't want to add the additional stress right away. However, I can't imagine a pet causing me to bomb classes nor can I imagine a situation where I'd ever have to give one of my pets up. When I take them in it's definitely a life commitment for me. I've joked with my hubby that I'd boot him before one of the cats 😀.

JulieB361 · Feb 8, 2009

I agree with the previous posters. I don't think having a pet makes you bomb at school, but I would wait until you are situated if I were you. I got my dog and cat during my sophomore and junior year of undergrad. I actually think having my dog helps my study in a weird way because walking her every day helps me de-stress and then it is easier to study.

Angie09 · Feb 8, 2009

As far as having pets during vet school, I think they're awesome -- I started school with 3 dogs and adopted a 4th early first semester, and they make me happier than just about anything else in the world, help me de-stress, help keep things in perspective, force me to get more exercise than I would otherwise, help keep me warm at night, and I look forward to coming home to them at the end of every day. Sure, it's time-consuming taking care of them, but I love them so it's 100% worth it.

To the OP, have you considered getting your dog certified as a therapy dog? Or getting a canine good citizen certification? That can be a pretty persuasive thing to a landlord -- anyone can claim their dog is well-behaved, but having (at least semi) objective obedience/temperament criteria met, plus references from previous landlords (I second that recommendation! I do it, and I definitely think it helps) carries a lot more weight.

As for the birds and cat, I wouldn't think they'd be too big an issue. Many of the apartments around here allow cats or small dogs; finding someone to rent for 4 big dogs is a little tougher, but definitely doable -- I think being a vet student helps with that, as well.

And for the breed concerns, who could PROVE that he's mastiff/boxer? Most landlords couldn't tell you what mixes my dogs are if their lives depended on it, and I don't have any genetic data showing that they're one thing or another, so I say they're lab mixes. And they very well may have some lab in them, and landlords like lab mixes a lot better than shepherd mix or pit mix or whatever other restricted breed you might think he is. If I were you, I'd say he's a rescue so I can't be sure, but I think he's a great dane mix. You're not lying, since you don't really know WHAT he is, and if he's 70 pounds with a big head, that's not completely outlandish. 🙂

CatVet2Be · Feb 8, 2009

Angie09 said:
Most landlords couldn't tell you what mixes my dogs are if their lives depended on it

My shepherd shaped, rottie colored dog is a lab mix as far as we (and the home insurance) are concerned. Her endless appetite sure proves us right on that guess, and I think what's most important is that you be realistic with your own dogs behavior. I know where I can and can't trust her (like not letting her near the poor mailman) but for other people who don't know her and have breed prejudices it's hard to convince them how good of a dog she can be if all they picture is sensationalized breed stereotypes.

Pandacinny · Feb 8, 2009

Angie, that's a good point. I've always told landlords I own a shepherd/lab mix, but I have had one tell me that "he's just a lab mix, right? For the homeowners insurance."

sumstorm · Feb 8, 2009

I would, as an experienced dog trainer, not suggest a young pup joining your household during stressful transitions (ie the start of vet school.) Just harder on you and the pup. Housetraining, chewing, etc can be challenging when you are established and have time available. I have 2 cats, and 6 dogs (2 SAR dogs), and a husband. We plan on 2 dogs going with me, at the beginning, and then transitioning more if I desire.

Fairyblastt · Feb 8, 2009

What kind of birds do you have? Macaws, Amazons and cockatoos would be difficult to keep in an apartment setting because of noise. They can be extremely loud. My african grey is pretty quiet and I've never had a complaint about her from neighbors. So, I guess it depends on the species of birds you have as well.

I would imagine that, if she had one of these darlings, she would already be well aware of the noise they make. At least I would hope so. Now that said, I'll take my U2's screaming over my mom's conure's noise any day of the week (no offense to yours, but he makes mine look like a lady of virtue instead of the fluffy demon she really is). Esp. when Mom's on the phone, and I feel compelled to ask after Elmo because he can't help but want to be apart of the conversation...

That said, I've lived with my bird in both an apartment and a condo without problems, so it can be done if needed (grant you my dog is also apartment sized, so my total situation is a little different). With these birds the only way you wouldn't be as concerned with the yelling is if you lived out in the county and can't see/hear your neighbors (though I'd bet they'd still know you have a bird, the bigger ones are impossible to hide).

I live in a house now, and I can easy tell you exactly what parrots we have in the neighborhood (besides my U2, we have a couple macaws down the street, a few 'tiels a block or two over, another cockatoo a couple blocks in the other direction, and one very noticable amazon 2 houses down)... because you can hear them all from blocks away. So it would be worse in an apartment if your bird likes to be a little brat... but that behavior probably wouldn't make your roommates very happy either.

That said, everybody I've ever lived with has thought the little darling to be the most precious thing ever, so assuming you aren't trying to live with people who are petrified of anything with wings, it's workable. And roommates can be trained to petsit (lifesaver as the bird already knows and trusts them!).

BodhiBird · Feb 8, 2009

Fairyblastt said:
I would imagine that, if she had one of these darlings, she would already be well aware of the noise they make.

He

... go 12%!!!

After vet school I can't wait to get a/some big noisy bird(s)... I'm actually leaning toward avian medicine... but who knows what future will bring.

sofficat · Feb 8, 2009

DocDVMD said:
I've heard horror stories about students bringing/getting a pet (namely, a dog) their 1st year and totally bombing school, causing them to give away their pet! Anybody have thoughts on this? I desperately would love to have the company of a dog during my vet school years, but I'm worried I just won't have time.

i've never heard of such correlation and actually believe the opposite is true. having a dog (or any pet) keeps you sane through vet school. they remind you WHY (oh why) you are putting yourself through all of it 😉
dogs also force you to get out of the house and EXERCISE! i don't have a dog (2 cats) so i borrow my friend's dogs and we all go to the dog park together a few times a week. if you bomb out of vet school- it WAS NOT your pet's fault.

also, here at auburn majority of my classmates (including myself) live in trailers in one of the dozens of trailer parks near campus. you can buy one for a few thousand and then you don't have to worry about pet restrictions. sounds white trash, but hey- we all do it and we love it (minus when tornadoes come)
:laugh:

DocDVMD · Feb 8, 2009

Thanks for the input. I guess hearing one or two stories freaked me out, even though I know I'm great at time management and of course I would never bomb out 😀 But I definitely wouldn't jump into dog ownership without settling in and thinking about it first. Plus, I can always find a roommate with a dog!

Caninerepro · Mar 9, 2009

I myself cannot imagine even trying to survive vet school without a dog or two or three... As was said before, they are something to come home to, something other than studying to distract you for a few minutes or take to the park on the weekend. Besides, we are going to be vets!!! How could we expected not to have pets of our own, that would be kind of odd don't you think. That said, getting an 8 week old unhousebroken puppy the week classes starts might not be the greatest decision. How about adopting over the summer before, when you would have time to do the initial training, or getting an older dog so you don't have to go through all the puppy stuff when you are going to be busy with getting settled into school. I would think when moving to a new town having someone familiar would be a comforting thing. Me, I am going to pick up two more of my dogs when I move out to vet school, in addition to the two I already have with me.

Kai

InanOven · Mar 9, 2009

I agree that having an animal during school can be a great comfort . . . I also suggest we all heed what sumstorm said about puppies . . . an older, well-behaved animal would be doable but puppies need time, and some more time, and then some clean up time etc. If you have a spouse I've seen that work, though he wanted the dog and now that he is in vet school she gets to be the primary puppy-raiser . . . but they both love the dog and there's no bitterness there, just reality. I'm taking my 5-year old dog and i know he can sleep on the couch for 8 hours and the house will be clean and intact when i return . . .

3dogsand2cats · Mar 9, 2009

I might be moving without my fiance' for the first year and therefor will be splitting up our pack. I will take my oldest dog and the 2 cats and he will keep the younger two dogs. Like Inanoven my dog will sleep most of the day and I don't have to worry about a shredded sofa or anything like that when I come home. I also agree with the comment made about getting a puppy. WHO is gonna have time for a puppy when they are in vet school? On the flip side there are tons of adult dogs/cats that you can adopt from local humane society's or shelter that might be a better fit. However you should get these animals acclimated to their new home before school starts. Sorry... I will get off of my soap box now!

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