Should I have pets in my condo or loft?

Many people who own pets consider them a part of the family.  That includes traditional pets like cats and dogs, but also reptiles like snakes and turtles, or animals such as birds, ferrets and rabbits.  Unless you are prohibited from doing so, there is no reason why you should not be able to enjoy your pet in a condo or loft just as much as you would anywhere else.

If you have a pet, make sure to read the association documents carefully before signing the papers to buy your new condo or loft.  Some associations prohibit all animals.  Some allow animals, but place size limits on them.  Others have no rules at all.  But if you buy a place and move in, only to find out pets are not allowed, you are probably out of luck.  So do your homework beforehand.

Once you know that it is OK to have a pet, here are a few things to consider:

1.  Do not wake the neighbors.  Just as you would be annoyed if your neighbor's dog barked all day long, so, too, will your neighbors be annoyed if your dog barks all day long.  It can be hard to break the habit of a dog that barks a lot, but you are obligated to try.  Sometimes, keeping their food dish full will do the trick.  Other times, leaving soft music on will make them think there is someone there with them.  The bottom line: Do what it takes to keep your barking dog in line.

2.  Keep your neighbors safe.  If you have a dangerous animal, whether it is a snake or a dog that is prone to biting strangers, make sure it does not get the opportunity to bother anyone else.  If you lose your pet because it escapes, you probably will be sad about it.  But if your pet escapes and injures someone else, you could be looking at a costly lawsuit.

3. How convenient will it be to take your pet out for a bathroom break in the middle of the night?  It's not like you can simply open the door and let them out.  Before committing to a condo or loft, you may want to see how quickly you can access a pet-approved bathroom area. 

4.  There are few better ways to really get to know a place than to walk through it.  If you have a pet that needs walking, like a dog, you'll have all the reason you need to get out and explore.

As you can see, so long as you do a little planning ahead, there is no reason why your pet should be a casualty of deciding to live the loft and condo lifestyle.