What is it with the NO PET in Washington PA.

[diabeticman]

A lot has been happening since my grandmother died and after her death I had a strong desire to move back to Washington. My wife got a job lined up I go for an interview tomorrow morning BUT we are trying to find an apartment and we are running into an issue of trying to find an apartment that will accept our cats and moving in 2 to 3 weeks.

I have been getting lots of advice lots of people saying we are going this or that wrong.


My dad and step mom insisted we get a job down there first. get a temp apartment until my share of the inheritance is released than buy a house.

We have had people said why didn't they have you wait until the money was release. We have steady okay paying jobs now where we live and a semi-nice apartment ( if the neighbors didn't do some weird things.) So once the money was release we could have looked for a house we want ( I WANT TO BUY OUT RIGHT. I don't want to have a mortgage.) buy it move in get and look for jobs down there.

So needed to vent and I know it would break my wife's heart to give up the cats. I don't want to get rid of the cats.

Help anyone?

[johnp3907]

1. Have you tried googling: "pet friendly apartments washington pa" or something like that?

That's about all I can think of. I hope things work out for you.

[diabeticman]

3. Yep. My wife has and she keeps getting Washington DC

[Warpy]

2. My paremts sent me their little dog to babysit while they lived in an apartment

in Florida, hunting for the perfect house. I kept the little fluffball for about a year, driving down to admire the house and return the dog when the dust cleared.

Can you possibly have somebody kittysit until you're stable?

And how many cats? I've found landlords OK with one or two and an extra few bucks on the security deposit in case they wee everywhere. They're especially reasonable when you've written a stack of checks and are about to sign the lease and say "Oh, by the way, I have a cat. That's not going to be a problem, is it? They're quite reasonable when they smell the money.

[diabeticman]

4. I wish I did. My brothers are full up with cats and My dad won't have them. We have three cats

[Warpy]

10. Talk to the prospective landlords

Offer up front to pay extra security. Promise to keep the cats in Soft Paws (yes, you can put them on, yourself). Mortgage your first born son, if you've got one to mortgage, otherwise lie.

Often landlords who stipulate "no pets" will get reasonable when extra security deposit is offered, at least with cats. They'll often accept cats, but not dogs. Reason: cats don't bark.

That was my experience in Boston, anyway, but I always looked for flats with wood or tile floors so I wouldn't have to pay through the nose to replace carpet.

Good luck. Landlords aren't totally unreasonable people, especially when they get someone who has a history of paying on time. In other words, they'd rather get somebody with multiple cats than a bunch of drunks and addicts.

[PADemD]

5. Try this site

http://www.apartmentfinder.com/Pennsylvania/Pet-Friendly-Washington-Apartments

[diabeticman]

13. Actually my wife tried the site and when she called for the apartment that was in the price range

they actually did not accept pets they did take her name and number and would search sister properties for us and let us know.

[SheilaT]

6. Unfortunately a lot of apartments and a lot

of landlords don't want pets. In fact, a move to a place that doesn't allow pets is generally the main reason people turn over their pets to a shelter.

How many cats do you have? If a place will take one and you have two, is there someone who can mind one of them until you have your own place? If you have three or more, it's going to be very difficult to find a place that will allow all three.

I had three cats myself and got incredibly lucky when I was moving across country six years ago and found a landlord who let me have all three. It helped a lot that my new apartment had tile floors, so they couldn't do any real damage. Even if they always pooped and peed on the floor -- which they didn't -- tile would clean up nicely. But I repeat, I was lucky.

Hope you find a place that will allow your precious darlings, or you can find a temporary home for them since it sounds like it shouldn't be too terribly long before you have your own place.

[pnwmom]

7. This site suggests you contact the local Humane Society for lists of pet friendly apartments.

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/animal_friendly_apartments.html

Here are some resources to get you started on a successful search for an animal-friendly apartment.

If an organization is listed but no website link is provided, call the number listed for help finding animal-friendly housing in that area.

The local humane societies mentioned below have lists of animal-friendly apartment communities in their areas and may have complete information packets.

SNIP

[Egnever]

8. This has them listed

http://www.apartmentfinder.com/Zip-Codes/15301-Apartments

[sweetapogee]

9. It seems

like a bigger challange would be finding a nice place to rent that doesn't require a year long lease that you would have to break when you close on your new house.

[Bluenorthwest]

11. I'd give up my cat like I'd give up my kid, but I recommend obtaining pet insurance for renters

or offering to landlords that you would do so. Many property owners are unaware of such insurance and it specifically covers damage to rental units by pets. A policy and a bit of a deposit can be persuasive.

[MadrasT]

12. Did you try Craigslist?

I know a lot of people who find housing through Craigslist (housing that isn't advertised anywhere else).

Hope you find a place, I would give up my cats when hell froze over.