Though San Francisco has statistically and anecdotally ranked among the most pet-friendly cities in the country (as well as the most humane) with a ratio of 1.7 dogs to children according to the SF SPCA, landlords are increasingly barring pets from their rentals in a high-stakes housing market. It's a shadow crisis for pets, the SF SPCA reports, as an increasing number of dismayed owners are forced to surrender their animals when they're unable to find pet-friendly housing or when their leases are altered.
Since March 1st of last year, the SPCA has managed 207 surrender cases that were housing-related. Half of those cases were due to residents unable to find pet-friendly housing, and 25 of them were due to changes in lease agreements. The highest number of surrenders were noted at the Mission District Shelter, where the agency reports that 42% of cases were due to housing issues.
What to do? "We want to give pet owners the knowledge and tools they need to proactively address a landlord's animal-related concerns," writes the agency's Krista Maloney. She suggests drafting a pet resumé to sway landlords, which yes, does sound a little ridiculous (I can't help cracking a joke here about a kitty curriculum vitae), but if your pet has had extensive training or been a darling of a previous landlord, it certainly couldn't hurt.
"This summary of your pet’s best qualities should include everything that makes your cat or dog a good tenant. You’ll want to include your pets past history in rentals, referrals from former landlords, along with any obedience classes and proof of spay/neuter, as these pets are better behaved," Maloney writes. "While this may sound ludicrous to some, it’s all part of the incredible competition to live in this fine city of ours."
Previously: KitTea Cat Cafe Coming In April!
