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an appointment and bring the dog. If you have a certificate of behavior training, bring it.” Cunningham also recommends a letter of referral from past landlords. “If you lapsed on training with your dog, get back to basics,” with commands like sit, down and stay. “Make sure your dog is ready for the interview,” she says. Also, offer to add a statement to the lease agreement that the renter will pay for damages caused by the animal. “If something happens in a house you’re renting, be honest and up front and repair that damage with the landlord’s permission,” Cunningham says. “Be a good renter. A good dog citizen. A good dog advocate.” As the dog foster coordinator for the East Sacramento-based rescue group Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary, Cunningham has firsthand experience with pet owners facing a lack of affordable housing. Requests to surrender animals to Happy Tails has increased over the last two years, she says. “There were a lot of requests in 2019. People having to move. People in tears who
cannot find housing they can afford that allows animals. That’s been a conversation I’ve had over and over again,” she says. “If you think you have to part ways with your animal, you need to plan ahead,” she adds. “Contact rescue groups or make an appointment at the SPCA right away.” The Sacramento SPCA, which mainly accepts owner-surrendered pets, tracks the reasons why people give up their companion animals. In 2019, 255 cats (19 percent of total feline surrenders) and 468 dogs (24 percent of canine surrenders) were given up due to housing-related issues, including foreclosures, homelessness, inadequate houses or yards, landlord rules and moving. “Sacramento is rated as one of the most dog-friendly cities in the nation, yet housing is still one of the top reasons why animals are surrendered by their owners,” says SSPCA CEO Kenn Altine. “As Gov. Newsom boldly pushes to end euthanasia of adoptable or treatable pets in California’s shelters, we must address the reasons
why they are entering shelters, including housing-related issues.” Newsom’s inclusion of $50 million in his 2020-21 budget proposal to help California become a “no-kill” state has won praise and skepticism among animal advocates. “If Gov. Newsom’s investment in California becoming a no-kill is going to be successful, then we’ve got to change the way landlords and building owners look at pet ownership. And also help renters understand their rights and obligations,” Cunningham says. “Lack of pet-friendly housing is a major reason for pet abandonment and relinquishment to animal shelters,” according to the No Kill Advocacy Center, which offers model legislation to prohibit housing discrimination against people with animal companions. “As long as reasonable concerns about pets are addressed—such as a deposit against damage—the privilege of living with a dog, cat or other animal should not be reserved to those fortunate enough to own their own home.”
With pet-friendly housing comes an additional monthly rental charge, as well as an often-hefty pet deposit. The Zillow search found prices for petfriendly rentals ranging from $925 a month for a one-bedroom apartment to $5,000 a month for a six-bedroom home. With all the new multi-unit housing being built in Sacramento, Cunningham is hopeful there will be more affordable options for people with companion animals. “Landlords are a huge part of the issue. By saying no to animals, they are ending up in the shelters and rescues. These animals are the unseen victims.” “Landlords have all the power,” Cunningham adds. “They have to recognize pets as family. They are saying no to someone’s emotional support. Money cannot be the sole factor.” Cathryn Rakich can be reached at crakich@surewest.net. Previous columns can be found and shared at the all-new InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @insidesacramento. n
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