Frustrations about Being Denied a Place to Live because of my Dogs Breed

@Jshean20 (14349)
Canada
March 10, 2007 4:45pm CST
Well I'm having a bad day. My boyfriend and I are leaving our current residence by the first of April and still don't have a place to go. We've called many places, asked if they accept pets and as soon as I say the breed, it's a big NO. The tenancy act around here states that you can legally be evicted " if the pet is dangerous, causes allergic reactions or causes problems for other tenants or the landlord, must you get rid of your pet or consider moving elsewhere as per Landlord application to terminate tenancy based on animals. Does this mean if my particular pet has been dangerous in the past, or are they talking about his breeds reputation? This is so frustrating..As many of you have guessed, yes my dog has some pitbull in him, he's a lab/pitbull mix to be exact. Is there anything I can do? Has anyone else experienced a similar problem? What are you opinions on the situation. Honesty is always appreciated. Thanks
3 people like this
6 responses
• United States
12 Mar 07
Pitbulls are notorious for being a bad dog around other people. Not for your family, but around strangers, which apartment complexes are full of. Labs are BIG dogs. So for you to be in an apartment with a dog that will be LARGE and the breed is known for not doing well with strangers it's a double whammy for you. And they are talking about the breed of the dog. They can discriminate against the pets all they want. The feeling is that if you want to live there badly enough, you'll get rid of the pet. Good luck on finding a new place to live before you have to move.
@Jshean20 (14349)
• Canada
12 Mar 07
Well he's got the body of a pitbull, he's 54.5 pounds which will be about as big as he gets. Thanks for your advice and opinion
11 Mar 07
Well if you can proof this is the reason then Yes you have a good chance + case. although i've never experienced this myself, I do know a friend of my parents who got kicked out because they had a rottweiler the neighbours made things up they got kicked out. I'm sorry to hear you having issues jshean20. ~Joey
@Jshean20 (14349)
• Canada
11 Mar 07
You'd have to be pretty cold-hearted to make up something about a persons dog to cause trouble.
• United States
11 Mar 07
Wow! I've never had that kind of situation, but I feel for you! Have you tried googling apartment places? That's where I would start, pet friendly places..and while I am an animal lover, please don't take this the wrong way. If it were me, and it was a place to live or my dog....I would have to choose place to live. Is there someone who would willingly take the dog off your hands. I understand the discrimination in all of this, but it must be considered as well. good luck!
@Jshean20 (14349)
• Canada
11 Mar 07
Even the pet friendly places don't want us because he has pitbull blood in him. He's actually a lab mixed pitbull and when they ask his breed I say: " lab mix" but of course they ask what mix and that's when we're denied.
@missyd79 (3438)
• United States
13 Mar 07
it's all about liability. because it will all fall back on the landlord if something would happen. I know we have looked at different trailer parks to move into and they also have restrictions on the breed of dog you may have, they even state that no pitbull, doberman, rottwieler, german shepards! are allowed. I know that it is up to the pet owner to take responsiblity if something should happen, but there are very greedy people out there that would sue the pet owner and the landlord if something would happen. yes it is frustrating but you can't blame people for covering their butts.
@aprilgrl (4460)
• United States
12 Mar 07
Some apartments here has a pets only if you have pure breed no mix. I don't know why they are so picky about the breeds. I wish you luck finding an apartments.
• United States
11 Mar 07
I've met several well socialized pit bulls in my life. There is no reason to have a breed specific ban.
@Jshean20 (14349)
• Canada
11 Mar 07
I can understand why they won't alllow it because there are so many bad owners out there and we're strangers, they'd probably rather not take the risk and take a tenant with no pets or atleast a pet with a better reputation.