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Pet Problems Solved!

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Dear Apartments.com,
I’m moving out of my parents’ house and into my own apartment for the first time. Everyone keeps telling me, “Get a pet, it’ll make things much easier.” I’ve never had a pet besides Orange, my carnival-born goldfish in the second grade. Orange didn’t fare so well, and I’m worried that I might not be able to take good care of a pet on my own. What do you recommend for the first-time pet owner? I will be out of the apartment for about 8 or 9 hours a day.
Thanks!
Lonely in Lisle, IL


Dear Lonely,
As an avid animal lover and owner, I know from experience that the most important thing a first time animal owner needs to do is be prepared. Owning an animal like a cat or dog takes patience, time, money and a lot of hard work. You won’t be able to be away from your home for an extended period of time without a “babysitter” or making other arrangements to feed and care for your pet. From the tone of your note it seems like you’re more inclined to get a pet because your friends are telling you that you need to have one. There are thousands of animals that end up in shelters every year because their owners didn’t realize the commitment that animal ownership entails. Plus, since a fish is probably the easiest of all the animals to take care of, you need to ask yourself if you’re truly ready for animal ownership. Since you will be out of the home for a good chunk of time, why don’t you try first with another fish, if you start with that and determine that you’re ready to make a step up, take a look at some of our other articles on which type of animal is best for apartment life. Having an animal is a lot like having a kid that never grows up, if you’re not ready to give up your independent lifestyle, you’re probably not ready to own a pet.



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Carrie


Hi, my name is Carrie and i just moved into a 1 bedroom apartment. I used to live in a 3 bedroom house with a huge back yard, i have a black lab and since she doesn’t get to be outside all the time, shes going to the bathroom inside alot, kind of like inspite of me. She is pottytrained and thats what i don’t understand. What can i do to stop this?

Darren


Well carrie take ur dog out for a long walk b4 u leave to go any where then take her out when u get home then do it b4 u go to bed and tat should stop it

 
 
Bayley


Dear lonely,
I have fish and I love to hear the pump running it makes me go to sleep at night. I think that is really why I have decided that I like fish.Also I had been wanting a small dog for a long time and for Valentine’s day last year my boyfriend got me a toy rat terrier! Personally that is the best dog I have ever had. It only weighs for 4lbs. and gets no bigger. He has never torn up anything and he is 1 1/2. He doesn’t bark at all and just when he is playing, but overall he is the best dog I have had. If you end up getting one I would definitely recommend a toy rat terrier. Good luck finding a pet!

 
Lil


Hey Desperate: My hat is off to you. WOW! You’re so committed to your job. You work 60 to 70 hours a week… Good for you!! I bet at times, all those hours are really “RUFF” on you.. poor baby. I bet you’ll do anything to please the boss. I’ll also bet, that once your boss has had you around for as long as he needed you, he’ll kick you to the curb. Send me an e-mail and let me know if while you’re on that curb, you see your German Shephards. Now I’m starting to understand why Dogs bite people!

 
Dimitra Kourtesi


please help me!my dog can’t stand on his feet by tommorow morning until now…we gave him pills but nothing happened…please tell me what is wrong with him??he was sick the last few days and he couldn’t eat and now this…please do something…

 
Jon


Dmitra..

What on earth are you waiting for? Get your dog into an emergency care facility before he dies.

 
barbara


DEAR APARTMENTS.COM

I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN MY APARTMENT FOR 6 YRS AND I HAVE A DOG PIT BULL AND AFTER 6 YRS MY LANDLORD IS TAKING ME TO COURT AND I HAVE SECTION 8 ARE THERE ANY SECTION 8 APARTMENTS OUT THERE THAT ARE PET FRIENDLY PLEASE HELP

YOU CAN EMAIL AT SEXYGIRL613s@yahoo.com

thank you
barbara from brooklyn

 
Rachael OReilly


I have just moved into an apartment and I need an animal that’s in a cage and that is easy to take care of.

 
Avrila


Rachael–I had a pretty easy time with hamsters when I was a kid. Put furry thing in cage, put cage out of direct sunlight, add food and water as needed, change bedding every couple days to a week depending on how much the smell gets to you. Easiest thing in the universe. Just make sure you get them from a store that keeps males and females separate, if you don’t want a LOT of hamsters, since mine had a litter of 15 a few days after I got her (I thought she was just fluffy, oops!).

I’d have hamsters now, but my cats would eat them (I doubt a cage would stop these cats; they’re smart and don’t mind knocking things over).

 
Savannah


I’m in a little delima. I am moving into an apartment on Aug. 1st and the weight limit for pets is 25lbs but the management said if the pet was close we would be ok. So we had our dog weighed and found out that he is 34.9 lbs. I called the apts. and the woman I talked to said that if he was under 30lbs it would be ok but because he is over he will not be able to stay unless he lost the weight. He’s not heavy for his height at all and I’m worried it would be unhealthy for him to lose the weight. Is it inappropriate to see if our long time vet would be able to just say he is 29lbs on our pet application? We’ve already put down a deposit thinking our dog was closer to 25-30lbs and it is non-refundable. Any advice?

Darren


HI the ppl that own the atp can’t do that to any one ask them to see what there pet weights and see then tell them that the rule go 4 them to thaht’s all i did

 
 
KB


Im currently living with my mom and i have 3 cats. I plan on moving out shortly but i can only afford a 1 bedroom. My boyfriend who will be moving in with me have been arguing about living in a one bedroom with 3 cats. These cats have lived together for 2 years and are very close to one and other. (Oldest one is 10 years old and the other two are two years old) My boyfriend is suggesting that i leave behind my ten year old because he doesnt think having 3 cats in a one bedroom is humane. I myself can understand where hes coming from but at the same i dont have the heart to seperate them. Is he right? What should i do? :/

Susan


Hey, KB! Kudos to you for not wanting to separate your cats!! I think your boyfriend is discriminating against the 10 year old. I currently live in a studio apartment and I have 7 - that’s right, I said 7 - cats. And no, they do not all get along all the time, but they are very happy. It will NOT be inhumane to have 3 cats in a one bedroom. I am sure they will all be very happy there… Please don’t listen to your boyfriend. Try to remember that boyfriends are disposable, pets are NOT!!!! Thanks so much…

 
 
robby


I love cats, I also train my cats so that they dont do things like go after the hamsters or jump up on things they aren’t supposed to be on. A very good method that I like to use when they need to get down is to get the pets attention by either saying the name and saying down, or snapping your finger and pointing down while giving the verbal down. Then when they don’t get down counting out loud to three, then giving a firm smack. It will usually require a smack at first but the more you do it, the more they realize that it is coming and they need to take action to avoid the smack.

 
robby


After a while, you will only need to give the initial command. Keep in mind that cats, much like children like to test their limits to see what they can get away with from time to time, so be prepared to use the full version of the training technique. And ALWAYS make sure you balence out the getting on to them with rewarding them for doing right, otherwise they will think that you are a mean person that doesn’t love them. Rember, you want them to respect you, not fear you.

 
robby


I have a problem with my roomates letting my cat out and yelling at the cat to try to get her to come back. I don’t blame her for not coming, I wouldn’t either. What I do instead is first, tell the roomate that I will take care of it. Then I go outside to where the cat is and call her to me in a sweet come here voice. Sometimes I will use some meat as an incintive for her to come. and when she comes to me when I want her to, I reward her for comeing back. I would rather have her come to me then to go further, and I know that she will get out a lot in the future because of roomates.

 
robby


I also like to take my cat for a walk from time to time, I bought a leash (I prefer using a 6 foot cat leash), and use it to show my precious pet that she is not allowed in the traffic, other peoples yards, and from running off from fear when a pesky dog is near. It is also usefull to give a gentle tug or two in the right direction keeping in mind that cats dont always want to walk. When your cat just wants to enjoy the immediate area, your schedule might not allow it, so you can always pick up the cat and walk with her. Use the leash only as a tool for training and safty.

 
Delores


Hi all! I’m a wheelchair-bound handicapped woman. My family and I are going to be moving into an appt. soon. Does anyone know whether or not a landlord must make an exception to a ‘no pet’ rule if the animal in question is a tiny , MD prescribed, therapy dog? All advice will be gratefully appreciated…

Jen


Delores, you may not need this info. any longer, if so..as long as your ddog is licensed in your county as a therapy dog as ismine the law requires that your dog is let in. Many times I do not mention my disability dog util I am giving my deposit and also havea witness, just incase after they say no to the dog, once they find out the law many times (friends) have experieced a new reason to keep you out when it was all go until the dog issue arose, not a nice thing to do to us who need our compnions to help with our needs. Please don’t have a Dr. try to cheat by writing a note it undermines all who need to assist our life

 
 
EThan


I have 4 leopard geckos in a 15-gallon aquarrium, what appartments in the walnut creek, ca area allow reptiles? Please reply with my GMAIL EMAIL, Please put something in the subject so i dont think that it is junk mail. Thank You!

 
jeremymorris


hey
my name is jeremy.and my cat keep poopping in our tub.her cat liter is clean.we clean it evey day.can you help me.

becky


bleach and santise the tub keeps her out of the tub. and keep throwing her in the liter box everytimr you see her in the tub it will brake her

 
 
TINA


I love dogs & only ever had them when I was a home owner. I always preferred bigger breeds like Labs or Rotties, BUT I must say that living in Yorkshire Woods In Cuyahoga Falls has become miserable due to small (mostly Yorkie/Pug breeds) and their irresponsible, undisciplinary owners!!! I’ve watched for over 6 months during this bad winter season where dog crap piles were an obstacle course to go back & forth to the parking lot & continuous barking!! If you like small breeds, remember, NOT EVERYONE DOES!!!! At least not continuous noncoherent barking!!!

 
Charlotte[$]


ive decided to get guppies for the first time but i just found out my heater heats up to 35 degrees celsius
is that heat going to kill the fish?? and will they be able to live without a heater for a week?

 
Kimmy


Hi there.
My fiancee and I are moving out to our first apartment. We both grew up with dogs. I grew up with Bichons and he grew up with a Pitbill/Boxer mix. We both want different things: i want a thing I can cuddle and pamper (think cute and fluffy) and he wants something that he can rough play with. Can someone recommend a dog that would fit us both? The most a dog can weigh in our new apartment is 60lbs.

Leah


Try a labradoodle! They are a mix between Lab and Poodle - they are playful and stout and love water and kids like a lab, but are curly and fluffy and adorable like a poodle. I LOVE them! I am not sure if they are larger than 60 lbs though…might want to check on that! :)

 
 
Sarah


Hi, I have a Bechon Freshe and she is 2yrs old. She barks all the time. I’m moving into an apartment and I’m worried about her barking. She also has been limited to hard wood or what called Wilson art floor because when we let her on carpet she wets on the carpet. I can keep her in kitchen when away and have a potty pad that she will use however she will not use to potty on. Getting a divorce and child loves dog and has so many changes and scared if we leave dog with her dad in house if will just make her feel more unhappy with already losing the house, her dad ect. Any suggestions!

 
Andrea


I am now going to be living alone. My boyfriend will be down in texas for a month and then a month off. I really want a dog to have with me and I have fell in love with a pitbull puppy. I know not many apartments allow pitbulls, does anyone know an apartment that does in edmonton?? Pleasee Help I have already put a 200 dollar downpayment on the dog before realizing the apartment problem.
Andrea

 
Trish Turtell


I have a 6yr old cat who is very attached to me and I to him. 2 yrs ago I moved in with my boyfriend at the time and brought Kitty with me. He hated it! He cried and meowed all night long for a week. I moved him back to Grandma’s where he is extremely happy & social and I soon followed. I am moving out again into my own apt with Kitty and I am so afraid he is going to hate it again. Should I get him another cat to keep him company? Right now if my sister brings over her Shitzhu, Kitty tolerates him, but if I show the dog too much attention, Kitty poops over the side of the litter box. Help, worried Kitty Mother!

 
 

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