The Astonishing Number – 87 Million Pets in US Households

Who Tops the Chart as the Most Popular Pet? Dogs are Man’s Best Friend and the undisputed Kings of Petdom, followed by cats, their owners’ independent and beloved companions. However, we also have many households where dogs and cats coexist peacefully under one roof.

According to the American Pet Products Association, pet ownership in the US has been on the rise since 1988, with 70% of households now owning a furry friend. The pandemic has only fueled this trend as people sought companionship and entertainment.

Your furry friend deserves the best

Discover a pet-friendly paradise

Find a solution for both of you

Moving to Florida may seem like the perfect solution, but don’t let your beloved pet become an obstacle. Our blog is here to help you navigate the challenges of finding a pet-friendly environment. We have done the research for you! We can show you pet-friendly neighborhoods and other establishments in Florida where your furry friend will be welcomed with open arms. Moving doesn’t have to be a daunting experience.

You have probably heard it already: there are many communities not best known for their dog/pet friendliness.  And if they claim to be pet-friendly, that does not automatically mean that there are no specific “pet rules” in place – rules that may restrict you and your furry friend’s well-being. You better be careful. There are very few spots on earth where you can live without rules.

Find pet-friendly communities here.

Let’s start with the good news first: 

There are still quite a few communities around which will welcome your furry friend – no questions asked. That is good news and will probably make your friend wag his tail.

However, there is a reason why we say “quite a few” and not “all.” Unfortunately, your choices are slightly limited when you bring a dog or cat. So, what can you do?

The bitter truth is that some communities will be out of reach for you because they decided to ban all pets. It is their decision, and you can do nothing about it. The good news is there are only so many communities like that.

Move on

Since we cannot do anything about those “nasty” communities, let’s focus on the more pet-friendly ones instead. But before we investigate the matter, let us discuss “some” rules. Even in the most pet-friendly communities, some pet rules will always apply. They are called “common sense rules.” By the way, failing to follow those basic common sense rules is why some communities decided against pets. Unfortunately, that decision is understandable to some degree.

Three Typs of Dogs

“Before digging into the common sense rules, we must clarify what a pet is. We have three different types of dogs, and only one cannot move into your new home with you if the rule says so. Unfortunately, that is the most common one.

We have dogs that are pets, we have service dogs, and we have emotional support animals. “A pet is a domestic or tamed animal kept for companionship or pleasure.” There is no necessity to have such an animal. Therefore, the HOA can say “No” to your dog.

A service dog is “a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.” A seeing-eye dog or guide dog can move in with the owner regardless of the HOA rules.

An emotional support animal is “an animal that provides relief to individuals with psychiatric disability through companionship.” It is not necessarily a dog; however, the HOA must accept whatever it is.

Okay, I know; now you have the same idea as many other pet owners. But it is not so easy to transform your pet into an emotional support animal. You need to go through medical evaluations. The process is lengthy and can be complicated. Better look for a community that will permit your furry friend.

What is Common Sense?

Picking up after your dog should be expected. Unfortunately, there are always some irresponsible dog owners out there who think that rules do not apply to them. Such behavior does not make communal living easier. Pointing out that the dog is only fertilizing their lawn for free will usually not convince the neighbors or homeowners association. Take a bag and do it right. 

Okay, and the next thing is to keep Fido on the leash. A dog, although seen by his owner more like a  family member (which makes him more human like) is still an animal, and all animals can and may act wired when something unforeseen happens. Start your search for pet-friendly communities here. 

“Unforeseen” from the dog’s viewpoint and not the owner’s. Therefore, staying on the leash is always in your and your dog’s best interest. Driving a squirrel up the tree is the slightest problem. Not everybody likes a wet kiss from a super-friendly dog. Only when your dog is on the leash can you control who will get that kiss – and who will not. And by the way, that may protect your dog from wet kisses as well.

Leaving your Dog alone

Some people leave their dog alone although knowing that he will start barking as soon as the door is closed. He will only stop when his owners come back – maybe several hours later. Well, in such a case you might want to hire a dog sitter or dog trainer. Otherwise, if that happens frequently, you will sooner or later hear the community gate closing behind you. In a non-deed restricted community your dog can do that, however, don’t expect a cozy relationship with your neighbors. That is a behavioral problem of your dog and can/should be fixed.

Yes, always the Government

Before we forget, the government also always has a finger in the pie. State and local governments require Fido to be vaccinated (against rabies) and licensed. A license tag must be attached to the collar, and your dog should wear this “Medal of Honor” with pride – clearly visible. You may be exposed to a stiff penalty if you disagree with the law.

Where can you take your friend?

Labrador Panting — Image by © Royalty-Free/Corbis proudly and clearly visible.

Many places! Sarasota County has numerous parks and beaches that are dog-friendly. Some even allow off- leash activities or bathing in the Gulf of Mexico (Venice Dog Beach)  – beautiful – woof! But dogs need to wear their tags unless you want to make the officials unhappy. And who wants to do that?

Rules, more Rules

Now back to pet-friendly communities. As mentioned previously, some condo or single family home communities allow no dogs at all. That is a simple rule – easy to understand. There are very few so strict. Others allow only one cat or one small dog. A small dog is considered one with a weight below 12-15 lbs. Medium size dogs are ones with a weight of 15 -35 lbs.

The latter is a relatively standard size for many communities.  Some communities apply the 15 lbs to 40 lbs rule instead. Another threshold is 50 lbs. Not too many communities allow big dogs up to 100 lbs or over.

Do HOAs really check the weight? 

Well, try to tell them that your horse size Labradoodle weighs only 12 lbs … that should qualify your furry friend for a “small” dog. He is all fur and with air in between, right? Hm, hold your horses – not so fast. HOAs know that pet owners do everything practically to

Labrador Panting — Image by © Royalty-Free/Corbis

help their little friend out”, and lying about the weight is a very common offense. Therefore, if in doubt, the HOA will most likely send you with your dog to the vet to get a weight certificate. Now the air adds another 60 lbs with ease, and your dream home goes up in smoke.  Be honest about the weight of fur baby, it will save you a lot of trouble afterward.

Weight restrictions and other restrictions

Many communities do not only have weight limits, but they also limit the number of pets. One pet is standard, two pets (two dogs or one cat and one dog) is also pretty common, whereas an unlimited number of animals is rare. At least in a gated community that is rather uncommon.

Now again, some pet owners may want to convince the HOA people that they had the flu when math was taught at school. Well, that doesn’t fly too well with most Homeowners Associations.

As a rule of thumb: If you have more than 3 dogs or if you have a combination of 3 dogs and 3 cats or even more you will probably be better off in a non-gated community with very loose or no pet rules at all.

What are your Options?

You may try to hide number three and four, but if push comes to shove you have a real problem. Some HOAs are clearly stating in their by-laws how many dogs or cats are allowed to keep; others only refer to some “pets.” In that case, 3 pets can mean 3 dogs, 3 cats or 1 dog plus 2 cats or whatever. In many communities, the 2 is the magic number. No more. That’s it.

Sometimes indoor cats are not mentioned in the by-laws. This can be an indicator of unconditional pet love. You might be able to keep your 48 in your 2 bedroom home if nobody finds a reason to complain.

Of Pitbulls and Men

So far we have covered the number of animals and the weight restrictions. There is still another restriction we need to mention….the Breed. Yes, we know that your Pit Bull is a lovely companion who would lick every burglar to death. The bad news is that in most communities your PitBull is not welcome.  It might seem unfair, but it is what it is, and a rule is a rule. We have written another blog about Pitbulls here. 

Can you ask for an exemption when you show them how caring your Pitbull, Rottweiler, Doberman or your Bulldog is? Yes, you can, but don’t expect them to hold two thumbs up. If it says in the by-laws “No” it usually means now.

Other animals

Oh, we almost forgot: you will also create a real issue with your neighbor should your 20′ pet Python or your pet Bird Spider escape from his cage. Keep it simple and stick to your fish tank.

For tenants

Oh gosh, that makes everything more difficult. Many communities or landlords do not rent to renters with pets. Isn’t that unfair and discriminating? Well, maybe, but it is perfectly legal. Is it legal do discriminate between smokers and non-smokers? Can a landlord say “cats only”? Yes, he can. Unfortunately, the renter needs to look for another accommodation where he can bring his furry friend.

Service Dogs and Service Snakes – we talked about it briefly

A blind veteran buys a home in a non-pet community and wants to bring his service dog. The buyer discloses it, but the HOA still declines the dog. This is a case for a lawyer! Seeing-eye dogs and service animals are not considered a “pet.” Federal Fair Housing Law is applicable which clearly states what a landlord can do and what he can’t do.

What about the seeing-eye-snake? Well, probably the snake can not see any better than its blind owner. Therefore, the snake would most likely not qualify as a visual aid. But an “emotional support animal” would be a different story again. If a doctor “prescribes” a particular animal for the well-being of the owner it is, again,  not considered a “pet” anymore. We don’t know if that python would really qualify, though. In such a case it is always advisable to talk to a lawyer first before dragging that 20′ animal into the house.

Don’t hesitate to call us at 941-244-8341 or email us below! We are pet lovers too, and helped many clients to find the perfect place for them and their furry family member(s).