Cecilia Godwin has been looking for a year and a half for a decent place to rent in Squamish that will allow her yellow lab-cross, Dexter.
“I am always looking to see if anyone has a place to rent, and there is nothing,” she said.
Godwin used to live in a pet-friendly Squamish rental – but it was a trailer “full of black mould” for $1,000 a month in the middle of nowhere, she said.
She couldn’t take the mould and the floors that froze in winter, so she left Squamish for North Vancouver, where she said it was much easier to find a place that accepts pets.
Godwin commutes to Squamish for her part-time caregiver job. She said she has been offered more work in the corridor, but the extra drive time from North Vancouver means Dexter would left alone for too long.
Godwin’s message to Squamish landlords is: “Have empathy.”
“I understand that there are bad tenants out there that don’t take care of their pets, but if I was in that situation, I would just ask a potential tenant that has a pet to get pet insurance,” she said, adding some plans cover up to $25,000 in damage to property or furniture.
According to BCSPCA, in B.C. 12.5 per cent of animals are surrendered over housing issues.
In Squamish, 194 animals were surrendered in 2014 and 11 pet owners listed “landlord” or “moving” as reasons – that’s about six per cent of all animals surrendered in Squamish.
Agreements between landlords and tenants are regulated under provincial jurisdiction through the Residential Tenancy Act, which was amended in 2004 to include a provision regarding pet damage deposits.
The provision is “to help encourage landlords to accept pets in their buildings,” read an email to The Squamish Chief from the ministry responsible for housing.
Landlords can request a deposit that equals up to half of one month’s rent, regardless of the number of pets, according to the Act.
Squamish property management company Century 21 Performance Realty and Management handles about 200 rentals in the district.
“With most of our owners we recommend that they do, ‘pets upon approval,’” said property manager Tiffany Sprenkels, “because they aren’t really saying yes or no, but they are saying it depends on all the circumstances, the type of pet, the number of pets, the applicant, the terms of the lease, those kind of things.”
About 80 per cent of the company’s landlords have this policy, she said.
“With the rental market how it is now, owners and landlords are really getting their pick [of renters], so ultimately it is really their decision.”
Sprenkels said she has seen a few incidents in which pets caused serious damage to rentals, including two in 2014 where pets caused severe flea infestations.
She said there have also been cases of animal neglect, excessive barking and damage from cat urine.
Ultimately, Sprenkels, who has two pets of her own, said she hopes Squamish landlords consider accepting pets. “Squamish is a great place to have a pet, especially dogs, with all the hiking and biking and running trails outside our doorstep,” she said.
Maren Bruun with the Responsible Dog Owners’ Group of Squamish (Rdogs), recommends pet owners create a resume for their pet listing training, skills and healthcare records. She also suggests responsible training and care of dogs so other landlords aren’t discouraged from renting to pet owners. Train dogs to be calm and not to scratch doors, chew or dig, she said. And make sure the dog is well contained outdoors. “Respect other’s yards. Limit barking. No elimination on common areas,” she said.
There are approximately 2,200 dogs licensed in Squamish, but the actual number of dogs in the community is likely at least double that figure, according to the district.
It isn’t just dog owners who struggle to find housing in Squamish; cat owners also face a struggle. According to the Squamish SPCA, inability to find appropriate housing is the second most common reason adult cats are abandoned in the district.
It took Jayde Klim a year to find a Squamish rental that would accept her three year-old indoor cat. “I would like to see more people accepting pets into rentals,” Klim told The Squamish Chief by email.
“They have every right to ask for a pet deposit in case damage does occur, but to outright refuse for no good reason feels discriminatory.”
Klim said the situation in Squamish needs to change. “Enough is enough. We shouldn’t be punished for loving our pets. They are family too, and to deny them a home is wrong,” she said.
