If you know that your neighbor has a dog and the landlord doesn't allow pets, would you tell on your neighbor? If the dog is barking and leaving little 'gems' all around then I can understand telling on your neighbor, but if the dog was quiet but you knew your neighbor had a pet and pets are against the rules, would you tell?
Would you tell?
- Thread starter MeriYa
- Start date
I understand, and that's how I probably would be too. I'm thinking of getting a dog, but the owner of the building I live in doesn't allow pets. People have pets against the owners wishes and knowledge, and that let's me know that I could do the same thing too, but I feel kind of apprehensive about getting a dog, even a small, quiet one. Hopefully no one would say anything, but I think I might drive myself crazy thinking about what if someone did tell one day. Maybe my neighbors who have pets feel the same way, but they are more willing to put up with that type of 'what if' thought process, or maybe they don't think about it at all and are nonchalant about the whole thing.
SpanielsRule
Member
I wouldn't tell the landlord. If I thought the dog was being mistreated or abused, I'd contact my local animal abuse and neglect hotline, but that's the only time I would feel right about intervening.
Poppy
Member
I think the natural and more reasonable thing to do would be to approach the neighbour and share your concerns. The only problem with this is that if the landlord ended up knowing it, this neighbour would assume that you had been the informer. This is the main reason why I always seek to understand all the rules, before moving into an apartment.
I wouldn't tell either, but as I've mentioned here I have been thinking about getting a small, quiet dog, but even the thought of someone telling on me kind of makes me feel like I should just stick to having goldfish and call it a day.
The landlord might change his mind about pets. What I find "funny" is that he has all sorts of rules that people don't follow, but he's kind of the "as long as I don't know about it" type. He's a good landlord, so I obey the rules so that I don't have to feel guilty or fake whenever he's talking to me. Other people break the rules but smile in his face. I just don't have that kind of energy... it seems too draining to put on a constant show like that for somebody.
ZITA
Member
I live in a situation like that myself. I had a dog for many years without any recourse. When he pasted away 6 months later I adopted another dog. Now whether I was legally "grandfathered" in or not I am not 100% sure. I am not an attorney nor do I claim to know a lot about real estate.
But as you said, considering the lease breaking activities of other tenants, adoption paled by compare. I did it, don't regret it and IF I was ever called out on it...I would be prepared to fight. Now trust me I am a low key, quiet type but I live in a multi-family dwelling, appx 100-200 tenants in all...my having a 7 lb dog is by far the least of worries for the landlord
If & when you would like to have a pet other then a goldfish perhaps you could approach your landlord on the side? I know some landlords allow cats others dogs (some have weight-breed limits
) and ask for additional security deposit. Just a thought.