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Man's Best Friend Sometimes Hard to Live With
Landlords and homeowners associations make it difficult owning large dogs or dogs
By Alexis Fernandez
ANCHORAGE - A dog is a man's best friend, but it's also tough to find a home when you've got Fido as a roommate.
“Even though we know that a lot of that has to do with upbringing, the landlord is going to be very concerned, “ said Kevin Cross, owner of Cross and Associates.
He says landlords or homeowners associations tend to be tougher on dogs that are bigger or have bad reputations, like pit bull mixes.
“You’ll see less resistance from a seller when you're buying a house and have animals than you will with a condo association, and the rules and the conveyances that surround that property,” he said.
Brooke Taylor, a spokesperson for Anchorage Animal Care and Control, says sometimes a dogs reputation is undeserved.
“What people should really focus on is not the breed it is, but proper socialization of that dog and proper training, those factors are hugely important especially while the dog is very young,” she said.
Cross says knowing your options could also prevent you from ending up in a sticky situation.
“Once you're in and you get an animal, its much more difficult, typically if you sign a lease, one year contract, and now that you've signed that else, trying to renegotiate, you’re really renegotiating from a point of weakness to try and bring in an animal,” he said.
The bottom line is do your research before taking on another family member.
