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Renting with Pets: Weather Warnings 2

// December 4th, 2009 // No Comments » // Renting with Pets

The heat, the heat – oy vey, the HEAT!

Do you want to know why this post is late, everyone?

The heat – oh my goodness, the HEAT!

Part 2: Sweltering Temperatures

It has been sweltering, folks. And unfortunately, I have been blessed with a computer that does not like the tropical Queensland weather. One day this will be rectified, but until then? Both you, the reader, and I, the author, will have to suffer through this together.

Don’t get me wrong – one of the best things about living in a subtropical climate such as Queensland is the glorious summer weather that we have – it begs us to go to the beach, or have a BBQ, or sit in the sun and get our yearly dose of Vitamin D.

But on other days, it screams at us to get inside, turn on the air conditioning, and hide until the evening.

We have various options to both enjoy and escape extremely warm conditions, thanks to wonderful technologies that keep our houses cool and our food chilled. However, until our companion animals have opposable thumbs, they have difficulty accessing these same technologies.

In the last couple of weeks, many animal welfare societies have started to post their summer guides. To save doubling up on a lot of this information, I would like to link to a couple of the key ones:

• RSPCA Victoria have a quick bullet-point list on Summertime Care.
• RSPCA New South Wales offer their Safe Summer for Animals articles.

However, in summary, you cannot beat these three tips:

1. Plenty of cool water (lots of big ice cubes can help too).
2. Plenty of shade (inside preferable, but an outdoor patio is suitable).
3. Plenty, PLENTY, of relaxation.

Too many animals pass away every year when they are left in cars or other unsuitable environments in the summer months (see RSPCA Queensland for their November 2009 article on car fatalities). I could go into a long diatribe about this, but here’s the simple truth, folks:

Don’t ever leave your animals unattended in a motor vehicle or other enclosures susceptible to high temperatures (plastic dog houses, plastic carry crates, etc.).

Just don’t do it.

No exceptions, no pardons, no “quick stop-off at the grocer”.

It is creating a high-risk situation that is avoidable, and no responsible person should ever consider putting their companion animal’s life at risk.

Small animals

As a bird and guinea pig owner, I have an extra challenge in this regard. For starters, my animals are limited by their cage and hutch as to where they can find a cool, shady respite.

In the summer, I urge my fellow exotic animal owners to bring enclosures inside. With shade being the most important element, why not relocate enclosures to 100% shade?

Other tips include the following:

• Using old pillowcases on top of guinea pig litter as little “beds” sure helps with the litter bill. I alternate between a day pillowcase and a night pillowcase for about 3 days, leaving the other one out on the clothesline to air out.
• Tiles! We have invested in a couple of old bathroom tiles, and these make a wonderful addition to a hutch, giving your animal the option for a cool surface if the heat picks up.
• We use water bowls instead of those water drippers. However, in the summer I like to have both there, just in case the bowl water gets soiled for any reason.
• Misting spray bottles are wonderful for birds that are not keen to hop into a bowl for a bath. Making sure the water is fresh, give your birdies a nice little misting bath (do not aim directly at the bird. Instead, turn the nozzle to face the ceiling – the water will shoot up into the air before “raining down” on your birds).

 
Stay tuned to Part 3 of our series on how to deal with the summer holiday season!

Renting with Pets: Weather Warnings 1

// November 19th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Renting with Pets

Here comes summer, folks.

And summer is anything but kind to many Australian homes. Already, bushfires are being predicted for South Australia, with many more extreme weather conditions on the way. Thunderstorms, heatwaves, and even fireworks can cause our companion animals distress.

So how do we deal with the upcoming weather theatrics and holiday festivities? Here’s a short primer to get you thinking about options for the summer ahead.

Part 1: Thunderstorms

Everyone has different tolerances and reactions to extreme weather – while one person will flinch every time they hear thunder, another person will quite happily go out in the rain and scream to the heavens, “bring it on!”.

How does your pet react to these occurrences?

My boys will usually flinch, but one of our guinea pigs is exceptionally sensitive to noise and light moreso than the rest of our clan. When storm season happens in Brisbane, we make sure that he has a secure and warm place to hide to comfort him. A colleague of mine has two small dogs – one would whine at the sound of thunder and the other would not be fussed. She has noted that they both now seek comfort next to her during a storm.

RSPCA Victoria reports the repercussions of “thunderstorm phobia”: “When dogs become frightened they will try to reduce their fear by either trying to escape the noise or by becoming more active as an outlet for their anxiety, often resulting in destructive behaviour. A dog at large and destructive behaviours increase the risk of injury to the dog.”

Knowing your companion’s responses to these events is your responsibility, and is in the best interest of you and your animal to provide a safe way to manage these reactions.

What can I do if I am not home?

• If a bad storm is forecast, consider what your animal needs. A warm space? A loving hug? Spend time with your mate and see what needs to be done.
• If your animal needs someone in the house with him/her, try to be at home if you have a safe method of getting there.
• If you cannot reach your home safely, try to find someone who can. Family and friends are your best options, as they will be familiar with your animal. Can they get access to your home in the case of an emergency?
• A trusted neighbour is your best ally. During bad weather, they can be your best way to check on the well-being of your pet if you are unable to get there. Of course, this puts the responsibility on you to introduce your pet to your neighbour – the sooner, the better.

What can I do if I am home?

• During a storm, give your animal access to the place that he/she feels safe. This could be anywhere – under a table, on your bed, or a private space in their hutch. Dissuading this behaviour can cause anxiety for your animal. Frankly, what would you prefer – for Fido to pee on your rug, or for him to run around the house and damaging the property, injuring you or injuring himself?
• Distraction therapy for your dog or cat is a good activity if your pet seems anxious. Food is always a great motivator, so having a chew toy or some fruit and vegetables will give your animal something to do. Encouraging small games that allow them to exert a little bit of that pent-up energy is also a great distraction (tug of war, chase the mouse, etc.).

On Saturday, Part 2 of our Weather Warning series will look into how to help your pets cope with the impending heatwave.

News.com.au – Pets are the new children…

// November 10th, 2009 // No Comments » // Renting with Pets

… Tell us something that we don’t know.

(original article at News.com.au)
(PDF Copy of Article)

In a feel-good article for the weekend edition of The Sunday Mail, Samantha Healy has stumbled on a truth that many people with companion animals have known for a while: we treat our pets as our children.

And can you blame us? In a society where the cost of raising a family is starting to skyrocket along with divorce rates, the family unit is not very reliable anymore. Buying a house will be a far-away dream for many young Australians, and unemployment at some point in our careers is a certaintly.

Our animals, our companions, give us something that our professional and personal lives can’t provide consistently anymore: unconditional love and trust. They will be there when we get home, wagging their tails or chirping away happily. They won’t steal the car keys and go for a joy ride. They won’t leave us for anyone else.

This is not just a trend – this is a certainty of the future. Pets are important to the emotional well-being of single men and women, and now they are making an important contribution to the family structure of the dual-income couple.

Everyone should have the opportunity to have the company of a companion animal, no matter what their housing status is, if they can prove that they can also give the animal the love and care that he or she deserves.

RSPCA information on pets in rental properties

// November 4th, 2009 // No Comments » // Renting with Pets

NSW tenants and landlords – get ready for some puppy love.

RSPCA New South Wales: Pets and Rental Properties

Many thanks once again to Mark from RSPCA New South Wales for this new article on renting with pets for NSW tenants. RSPCA NSW have not just given some state-specific information, but also provided excellent general advice for anyone who is looking to start a new tenancy with their companion animal.

Pets and Rental Properties is an invaluable resource for Australian tenants and landlords, and hopefully a step forward in creating harmonious relationships between all parties so that a companion animal can have a loving home.

There is an increased need for this information in the community, especially relating to relevant procedures that are often governed by state laws. I am also honoured that they chose to include me as a resource for their article.

The process of a successful relationship between tenant, landlord and animal has many positive rewards for everyone involved.

Tenants have the benefits of a stable environment for their pet, with the knowledge that they are able to talk freely and resolve issues with their landlord. They are able to know the joy and benefits of having an animal in their family.

Landlords can rest assured that their tenant will be responsible with their house/unit, and have complete knowledge of every occupant that resides at the property. They can discuss any concerns that arise and make fair agreements about how to resolve situations.

Animals will have a happy, relaxed environment, hopefully for the long term. They will know that their owners will never be made to choose between them and their tenancy.

All of this will, in turn, reduce the number of animals abandoned or surrendered to animal welfare organisations, freeing these resources for such organisations to deal with other incidents of neglect and abuse.

Do pets kill the environment? (Response to “Ditch the Dog”, News.com.au)

// October 25th, 2009 // No Comments » // Renting with Pets, This is the life

On October 23, News.com.au threw fuel into the fire about the worth of our pets, by citing new research to prove that our humble canines “us up more energy resources than a car.”

Dogs use up more energy resources than a car, authors claim

I am not in a position to disprove these findings, however, I want to look at the possible social implications of this study.

Firstly, I find that this study is once again crossing the fine line between “owning” pets and “adopting” animals. One correlates with the idea of animals as material possessions, the other with a notion of animals as “family”. By comparing and contrasting dogs, cats, and even birds with the ownership of a motor vehicle, both Robert and Linda Vale are going to get a lot of negative feedback from humane organisations who are trying to combat the “ownership” analogy that leads to many thousands of animals dumped at shelters or even in the wild every year.

Secondly, there is the inevitable question of “well, here’s the research – what are you going to do about it?” Does having a pet in the family negate your responsibility to the environment?

Let us look at the comparison that is provided in the article: between a German shepherd who creates an eco footprint of approximately 1.1 hectares, and a human in a developed country whose eco footprint is anywhere between 1.8 and 6 hectares.

Are we asking fertile women to undergo procedures to get their tubes tied? Are men guilted into having vasectomies so that they do not bring a child into their household that would create a eco footprint up to five times that of a large dog? No, they are not. However, “larger animals” are being victimised simply because they are large, with the author of the article suggesting goldfish and hamsters as a eco-friendly option for families who “want to own” an animal.

Lastly, there are many other ways to reduce your eco footprint other than giving up your companion animal. Take a walk instead of switching on the plasma. Have a candlelit dinner instead of using lightbulbs. Play board games instead of heading straight to your favourite console. Only purchase food that you know that you are going to consume, or have a worm farm to pick up the scraps.

I find it interesting that none of these options were discussed in the article.

Or, perhaps, I am not surprised that these suggestions were completely ignored in favour of “ditching the dog.”

Long story short – don’t believe all of the hype. If you want to be ecologically aware and still adopt an animal, do your research so that you can fulfill both obligations responsibly.

How pets boost property prices

// October 16th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Renting with Pets

Landlords and home owners are running out of reasons to prevent companion animals on their properties, as Domain.com.au released their research into how pet-friendly properties are on the rise. Whether they like it or not, tenants and future home owners are looking out for their “fur kids”.

Domain.com.au: “How pets boost property prices”

Domain clarifies further: “with the rise in single-person households, pets will become an even larger influence in the type of property we look for and the amenity of the suburb around us.”

With pets becoming more than the animal that is “kept in the backyard”, new property owners and tenants are looking for properties that will pamper their loveable four-footed friends.

This market is on the increase – what can you do as a home owner or landlord to make your property pet-friendly? Domain has included some simple suggestions to help “future-proof” your property for companion animals.

Many thanks to Mark from RSPCA New South Wales for forwarding this article. You can follow RSPCANSW on Twitter (@RSPCANSW) or at the RSPCA NSW website.

Renting with Pets – This Weekend: 17-18 October 2009

// October 15th, 2009 // No Comments » // Renting with Pets

When was the last time you treated your four-footed comrade to an indulgent bathing experience?

Alina from the Australian Cavy Sanctuary has introduced her piggy friends to EarthBath – a range of natural pet care products from the USA. Their happy faces say it all, really:

Of course, any kind of pampering for your pet is welcome pampering, and with flea and tick season in full swing in Australia, now is the best time to give your furry or feathered companion a wonderfully indulgent bath!

Birds

• Feathered friends love the water! A low-running tap in the bathroom sink is fascinating for many birds. If you are under water restrictions, getting a reflective tray or dish and filling with a low level of water (covering the feet) will give your parakeet some play time with their new “mirror-friend”! 

Dogs, cats, and other furry friends

• Dog washing can be fun for the whole family! Get some lovely shampoo and lather up your four-footed friend in the bathtub or out in the yard.
• If you have a busy schedule, why not book your dog or cat in to see a groomer to get spoilt? The professionals are there to make sure your pet is PAMPERED and has an enjoyable experience. Take the time today to book in your pet before the weekend rush!

Once your pet is dry, treat them for fleas and ticks if you haven’t already, and give them a special treat.

Renting with Pets – It’s all about trust

// October 6th, 2009 // No Comments » // Renting with Pets

One of the classic questions that occurs when a tenant decides to bring a companion animal into the household is whether or not it is in their best interests to tell the landlord or real estate agent. To put it bluntly, it’s about trust on both sides of the fence.

There are plenty of horror stories of tenants who are left with the difficult option of giving up their pet or giving up their home. There is no right or wrong decision when faced with this dilemma. However, there is a way to avoid the situation from arising. While no rental home is guaranteed to have the same tenancy conditions forever, you can increase your chances of having a consistent tenancy arrangement by being honest with your landlord and your real estate agent.

Why? Well, whether we like it or not, we do not own these properties. The landlord owns the bricks and mortar that give us shelter. And likewise, it is not the bricks and mortar that make up a home – it is the things that we bring with us. A tenant who demonstrates an understanding of this delicate balance through a responsible attitude towards the building’s care will have a better chance of staying as tenants. We are the eyes and ears of the property – once a landlord gets shut out from the going-ons, they would rather remove the figurative lock than feign ignorance.

And you know what? There are no guarantees. That is the nature of renting properties. And while there is no magical cure to having a house forever, there are certainly many ways that you can screw it up. Being dishonest is right up there on the deadly tenancy sins.

The best method is to know what to say to give the owners of the property the ability to make an assessment of their risk. If you are adopting a puppy, discuss this with the landlord and provide options where you demonstrate your responsibility. This may include barricading certain areas of the house, or a written agreement stating that you will pay for damages, with a clause that gives the option for the landlord to not renew the tenancy if the damage exceeds a certain financial threshold during the period of the tenancy. Financial and physical thresholds may convince the landlord that you will show due care, rather than allowing damage to occur with no other consequence than your bank book.

Of course, this responsibility goes both ways. Ensure that your landlord is upfront with concerns and questions. If they are dismissive of the notion of pet ownership, provide the opportunity to discuss why. While it may not enable you to adopt the little pup that you love, it may open a door for other pets to be considered who are equally worthy companions. If your landlord believes that you are not living up to your end of the pet arrangements, ensure that you had stipulated a clause where discussions are entered into prior to eviction notices being given. Make sure that landlords are held accountable and receive concerns in writing, either via email or post so that you have a adequate paper trail.

It’s all about trust, and that trust goes both ways.

Renting with Pets – This Weekend: 3-4 October 2009

// October 1st, 2009 // No Comments » // Renting with Pets

Nothing else to do this weekend?

Take the time to do a thorough cleanup of your pet’s sleeping area and/or cage.

Yes, it is not the most exciting job in the world, but it needs to be done, and always best to do regularly so that it is less work when the landlord inspects! So here are some tips to get you planning for the weekend: (more…)

Renting with Pets – Intro Post

// September 30th, 2009 // No Comments » // Renting with Pets

We are fortunate enough to have five of the sweetest animals in the world that live in our rented home – 2 budgies and 3 guinea pigs. We were also fortunate enough to have a very supportive and understanding real estate agent who took our committment to our animals’ welfare into account when we were looking for a rental property. However, not everyone is so lucky. So what is it about pets that send landlords and real estates running from potential tenants? (more…)