MCLife has an open pet policy unlike most apartment complexes. They don’t have breed restrictions, size or weight restrictions. While pet lovers love this policy, those without pets may not feel the same way. Regardless of an apartment complex’s pet policy, residents are often faced with the same problems.
So, what do you do if you have a loud dog next door that keeps you awake from barking? What do you do if you are constantly dodging pet waste as you walk through the grounds? There are appropriate and inappropriate ways to handle these situations as the pet owner or the aggravated neighbor.
For Pet Owners:
Knowing the proper pet etiquette can be difficult! Here are a few blogs that talk about what you should and should not do. Apartment Search wrote a great blog about proper apartment etiquette and one of the things discussed is pets. In their opinion, “If you are a pet owner and you live in an apartment complex, do not expect everyone to love your pet as much as you do. Keep your dog on a leash, control their barking and clean up after your pet.” They also point out that “pet ownership in an apartment complex is a privilege not a right.”
A lot of apartment complexes and rental properties do not allow pets or restrict which breeds are allowed in. As a courtesy to those living around you and to maintain support for open pet policies, it is a good idea to respect your neighbors by cleaning up after your pet and managing their noise level. While apartment grounds should always be clean, maintained and free of debris but if there is a problem let your apartment staff know. Don’t be afraid to let management know.
Brick Underground lays out 9 rules for pet owners in apartment complexes. What is #1? Your building’s planter is not a fire hydrant. The first complaint people have in regards to pets is that owners allow their dogs to do their business wherever they please. What is their suggestion? “Train your dog to pee a respectable distance away from your building.”
For Concerned Neighbors:
Sometimes neighbors try to take care of pesky pets on their own, they may buy sonic devices that are meant to stop a dog from barking. You may have also heard horror stories in the past wherein frustrated people try to poison their neighbor’s dog.
Apartments.com wrote a blog that covers what you should do if you’re neighbor’s dog won’t stop barking. Their first recommendation is to contact a landlord. Your landlord may not be aware of the problem so letting them know in a timely manner is always a good idea. What don’t they recommend? “Contacting law enforcement should never be the first step…As with any neighbor problem, addressing the issue politely and directly is almost always the best approach. However, if talking to the dog’s owner doesn’t bring relief, consider contacting the landlord and, if necessary, local law enforcement or animal control.”
So, instead of buying devices or resorting to poison, you can handle your neighbor’s dog without drama or hassle. A general rule to remember is that manners go a long way. If you see a neighbor failing to pick up their dog’s poop, or if their dog is constantly barking, you can politely speak to your neighbor about it. Often times, being aggressive and confronting someone with attitude will result in a response of a similarly aggressive tone, so try to stay cool, calm and collected when bringing up the issue.
We all want to feel comfortable, relaxed at home wherever we live. Cooperating with your neighbors and property managers will help everyone live better. If you are having a problem with your neighbor’s pets, remember to let your landlord know. Speaking up early on will prevent a problem, and your frustration, from building up. Your neighbor may be unaware of the issue at hand and sometimes a polite request will get the job done.
Remember as a pet owner that not everyone may love your pet as much as you. The two important things to keep in mind are: clean up & communicate. Do your part to be considerate of your neighbors and community living spaces. While there are maintenance staff members on the property, they are busy and can’t always be cleaning up after your pets. Try your best to be courteous and pick up after your pet does their business.
If you want to know more about each region MCLife operates in, you can visit their regional sites for: Houston, Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, Tulsa, Phoenix and Tucson. Each site has information on available units, contact information for leasing managers and more. You can also find ind out more about our policies and 5 MCLife Promises and their open pet policy at MCLife.com
Dog & Cat Banner Images Via: 1, 2
