Dogs, Cats, Hamsters, Fish. It doesn’t matter what species they are. All that matters is they are family, and without them, a place to stay is not a home. Pets provide companionship, which helps us battle loneliness and isolation. Luckily, Avana is a pet-friendly organization, which makes us think – why not? Why do so many of our competitors not allow pets in their suites?
Why some apartments and rentals don’t allow pets:
The main reason is potential property damage from our furry family members. We have all heard horror stories about pets scratching up carpets, destroying walls and even attacking neighbours. With more than 50% of families in Canada having a pet as part of their family, not allowing pets limits the number of families that could rent one of those suites.
The cons of renting to families with fur babies can be:
- Potential property damage.
- Excessive wear and tear.
- Leave waste and odours.
- Noise for other tenants.
- Potentially hazardous to other tenants.
Here are two tips when bringing in a new animal member or finding a home for your entire family:
Check the size of your pet vs. the size of the space. Size is one of the most critical aspects of choosing a new pet or a new home. If your furry friend doesn’t have enough space to live comfortably in your new rental home, they will be unhappy and have a much more significant potential to cause damage than they would otherwise. Choose a new suite or pet with this consideration in mind.
Be reminded of the amount of time your pet will be left alone. Alone time at home for a pet is healthy; however, extended periods may lead to restlessness. Although this is less of an issue now, as there are many options for daycare for pets, we recognize only some have the opportunity or expendable income to utilize these facilities. It is a great idea to ensure your neighbours get a good meet and greet. If anything unfortunate happens, it is good to establish this connection in the event you aren’t around, or they get loose.
Avana is a pet-friendly space to rent from in Regina or Edmonton.
If you are looking for a safe, high-quality, attainable rental suite that is also pet-friendly, then you have come to the right place. Our suites at Avana are all pet inclusive because we don’t think you should exclude anybody from finding their dream home. We have made it our mission to put purpose and people before profit, which is one of the small ways we achieve that. In addition, many of the people we are trying to support, specifically women and children fleeing violence, have pets, and many shelters do not allow pets.
In 2021 the Provincial Association of Transition, Houses and Services of Saskatchewan (PATHS) completed a survey of 60 survivors of Intimate Partner Violence. 80% of the brave survivors discussed the need for accommodating and pet-friendly shelters. SOFIA House created the Safe Paws initiative to help. They aim to raise awareness about the importance of pet-friendly shelter spaces that welcome families with pets navigating the healing process after experiencing violence. Avana was proud and excited to support this initiative financially.
Did this pique you and your furry family member’s interest? Take a look at our pet-friendly rental home availability here.
For more information or if you would like to help, read these two excellent articles on the subject.
