Recently, I have been torn between the desire to have a dog in my apartment and the fear of the challenges that come with it. Seeing other people in the neighborhood happily playing with their dogs has only increased my desire to have a furry pet.
However, I have also heard countless stories about the challenges of having a dog in an apartment. For example, a friend of mine was caught keeping a dog secretly by her landlord, and as a result, the dog was taken away and most of her deposit was forfeited. This has made me hesitant. To find out the facts, I decided to delve deeper into the issue.
Legality and rights of keeping a dog in an apartment
To get a better picture of the situation, I contacted friends with pets and browsed various rental and pet forums for information. It turns out that tenants do have certain rights when it comes to bringing a service dog, emotional support animal or regular companion pet into an apartment.
For example, my neighbor has a disability in his leg and needs a service dog to help him move around. At first, the landlord was reluctant, saying that the apartment was not suitable for a large dog. However, after my neighbor produced a disability certificate and proof that the dog was qualified as a service dog, the landlord had no choice but to allow the dog. This gave me confidence in keeping a dog in an apartment.
In Victoria, tenants have clear rights to keep pets, and landlords cannot refuse to rent on this basis alone. However, landlords can still prevent tenants from keeping pets if they obtain an order from the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). There was a case where a tenant and landlord clashed over this issue.
The tenant asserted his rights, while the landlord objected on the grounds that it could damage property. In the end, the landlord successfully obtained an order to prevent the tenant from keeping pets. This shows that although there are protections for keeping dogs in Melbourne apartments, there are also restrictions, so caution is required.
The risks of sneaking a dog into the building
I admit, I have thought about sneaking a dog into the apartment. Once, I almost brought home an abandoned puppy I found on the street. But on second thought, I realized it wasn’t a smart move. A friend of mine tried it once, thinking the apartment was lax and would go unnoticed.
However, during a routine inspection, the property manager immediately spotted the dog hidden in the room. The landlord was furious and imposed a hefty fine under the lease agreement, and gave my friend one week to get rid of the dog or the lease would be terminated. Clearly, keeping an unauthorized pet can be a big risk and should never be taken lightly.
The practicalities of keeping a dog in an apartment
Keeping a dog in an apartment is perfectly practical and compatible with animal welfare standards, as long as the dog’s exercise, intellectual stimulation and socialization needs are met. One blogger I follow lives in a similar apartment and has an energetic Husky.
She gets up early every day to take her dog for a run in the nearby park, and in the evenings they play Frisbee or training games. Thanks to her careful care, the Husky can live happily in the apartment without being bothered by the lack of space. This makes me believe that keeping a dog in an apartment is not as difficult as you might think.
However, dogs – especially those that are not well-trained – can cause damage in an apartment. Dogs are generally more active and more destructive than cats. Once when I was visiting friends, I saw their dog had torn the sofa cushions to shreds and left scratches on the walls.
Therefore, if you plan to keep a dog in an apartment, training is essential – not only to prevent damage, but also to make the dog more likeable.
Another question is whether it is appropriate to leave your dog alone in the apartment while you are at work. Generally speaking, dogs should not be left alone for more than four hours at a time, but this depends on the age, breed and adaptability of the dog.
One of my colleagues has an older dog, and when they go to work, the dog will quietly sleep on the bed until they return and then become active.
On the other hand, another friend’s little poodle will start “redecorating” the apartment after they leave and barking constantly, causing frequent complaints from the neighbors. This is a factor that must be carefully considered before deciding to get a dog.
How often do you take your dog out?
Living in an apartment means you can’t relax about taking your dog out for a walk, as this is essential for their hygiene needs. Adult dogs usually need to go out every 6-8 hours, about 3-4 times a day, while puppies need to go out more frequently. My neighbor has an adult golden retriever, and he sets an alarm to let it go out in the morning, noon, early evening and evening. I really realized how challenging this routine can be when I took care of the dog one day while his owner was away on business. But these daily care details are essential for the dog’s comfort.
Bringing a dog to Melbourne: what you need to know
I had dreamed of bringing my dog to Melbourne, attracted by the beautiful parks and pet-friendly communities. However, after doing some research, I learned that dogs and cats entering Australia must undergo at least 10 days of quarantine.
The only quarantine facility in Australia is located in Mickleham, a suburb of Melbourne, and it is often full. A friend who was planning to immigrate to Melbourne tried to book a place at the facility six months in advance, but was unsuccessful and had to give up on bringing their pet into the country. This complicated my plans, as without a quarantine place, my dog would not be able to enter Australia.
Dog rules in public places in Melbourne
In Melbourne, dogs must be on a leash in all public areas except in designated areas of parks. I once saw a video online of a dog owner in a public square in Melbourne who did not keep their dog on a leash.
As a result, the dog suddenly ran off and scared a child, causing the child to fall and injure himself. Not only did the owner have to pay for medical expenses, but they were also fined for violating the rules. Therefore, when walking your dog in Melbourne, please be sure to follow the rules and be a responsible pet owner.
Ways to get around apartment pet restrictions
Don’t hide your pet
Never try to hide your pet, as it will eventually be discovered and lead to even more trouble. One of my classmates secretly kept a puppy in their rented apartment and kept it locked up in the room all day. When the puppy got sick and started barking non-stop, the landlord heard the noise, knocked on the door, and the secret was revealed.
The landlord was very angry, withheld part of the deposit, and demanded immediate removal. My classmate had to find a new place, which caused him a lot of unnecessary stress.
Create a dog resume
You can prepare a detailed resume for your dog, including breed, personality and health, to help the landlord get to know your pet better and increase the chances of approval. A friend of mine included photos, vaccination records and details about their dog’s training (for example, not to bark excessively or destroy furniture) in their rental application. The landlord was impressed by the dog’s reliability and agreed to let them take their dog with them.
Offer to pay an additional deposit or pet fee
This will reassure the landlord, as they will be compensated for any potential damage caused by the dog, thus reducing their concerns. A tenant I know offered to pay an additional pet deposit and promised to compensate for any damage.
When the dog accidentally scratched the sofa, the tenant immediately arranged for repairs and deducted the cost from the deposit. Since then, the landlord has been more at ease with the pet.
Show your dog’s training certificates
If your dog is well-trained and has the relevant certificates, you can allay your landlord’s concerns. A dog trainer I met at a pet show had obtained various professional certificates for his dog.
When renting an apartment, they showed these certificates to the landlord, who immediately agreed to their keeping a dog and said that such a well-trained dog would not cause any problems in the apartment.
Have your dog DNA tested
This can prove your dog’s identity and reassure the landlord. In one community, incidents of stray dog attacks have made landlords wary of tenants with pets.
A tenant who wanted to get a dog had the dog DNA tested and showed the landlord the report, proving that the dog’s pedigree was pure and its identity clear. The landlord then agreed.
Provide references
For example, positive feedback from previous landlords or neighbors can prove that your dog is well-behaved and cute, thereby increasing the chances of getting approval.
One of my colleagues asked their previous landlord and neighbors for references, praising their dog for being calm, quiet and having good toilet habits. The new landlord was impressed by the references and readily agreed to let them take their dog with them.
Show relevant certificates
If your dog has a service animal certificate or an emotional support permit, the landlord generally cannot refuse. Just like the disabled neighbor I mentioned earlier, whose service dog has a professional certificate, the landlord has no choice but to allow it to stay.
Get pet liability insurance
If your dog causes damage by accident, insurance can cover the costs and ease the financial burden on the landlord, making them more tolerant of pets. I heard about a tenant whose dog broke a neighbor’s vase.
Thanks to pet liability insurance, the insurance company quickly reimbursed the loss, and the landlord and neighbor let it go. After that, the landlord was much more tolerant of the tenant’s pets.
Landlord restrictions and inspections of pets
Landlords are owners and tenants must comply with the pet policy set out in the rental agreement. Unless local landlord and tenant laws stipulate otherwise, landlords can legally prohibit dogs from entering, even for a short stay.
I once wanted to invite friends over with their dogs, but asked the landlord beforehand, who explicitly said that pets were not allowed in the apartment. So if you want to invite a friend’s dog over, it’s best to discuss it with the landlord beforehand to avoid any unpleasantness.
Although it is not a general legal requirement, many landlords and property management companies do check for pets during the rental application process.
When I was looking for a place to live, one landlord required tenants to provide information about their pets when applying, including breed, age and vaccination status. Some landlords also conduct random checks before and after move-in to ensure tenants are complying with the pet policy.
So if you plan to have a dog in your apartment, you may need to get past this hurdle. It is best to be proactive and disclose your dog ownership when applying to show your sincerity and responsibility.
Conclusion
Some people think it is unfair to keep a dog in an apartment, but I disagree. As long as you take your dog out for a walk every day or go to the dog park to play with other dogs, your pet will be very happy. Dogs don’t care about the size or aesthetics of their living space. The most important thing is to be with their owners, to receive love and companionship.
I often see a Chihuahua living in an apartment in the neighborhood. Despite the small space, its owner spends a lot of time with it, taking it to the community lawn to play. The Chihuahua is always happy and not unhappy at all about living in an apartment.
If a landlord discovers an illegal pet, they may impose a fine in some cases. The fine is usually calculated per pet, and some landlords charge a fixed amount, while others charge based on the number of days the pet has been kept. I know of one tenant who kept two cats secretly.
When the landlord found out, they fined the tenant $50 per day per cat, which for a month came to almost half a month’s rent. So it was definitely not worth the risk. Always talk to your landlord and get their approval before bringing a dog home. That way, everyone, including your furry friend, can rest easy.