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APARTMENT GUIDE / MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
Rooming with pets has costs, responsibilities
BY JASON SHOLL jsholl@kansan.com
Everyone knows that a pet can be a man's best friend, but what they don't know is how costly they really can be.
Searching for an apartment means keeping in mind things such as a good location, cheap rent and good quality. But when a house pet is brought into the equation, all the key elements you look for in an apartment change. All housing complexes have different rules and policies on house pets. You can find the perfect apartment but may not be able to live there because of the house pet you bring along with you.
The Reserves on 31st street, as well as the Hawker on 10th and Missouri both have a no-pet policy rule. Some places, such as High Pointe apartments, 2001 W. 6th st., require a $200 pet deposit.
Katie Wagner, a sophomore from Dallas and owner of a black lab/border collie mix named Lucy, said the process of finding an apartment with her dog was a difficult one.
"I had to look at three different apartment complexes before I was able to settle
on Hawks Pointe II," Wagner said. "Not to mention also having to pay Hawks Pointe a $300 deposit, even though I do get some of that back."
Students should also consider whether an apartment is a good environment for their pet. Brenda Newell, a veterinarian at the Lewis Veterinary Clinic, says balancing living conditions can be difficult for students living in apartments
"It's not the best case scenario at all," Newell said. "They should have enough space to roam around but with the right owner and the right exercise they'll be iust fine."
Wagner has experienced some of the problems associated with having a pet in an apartment environment.
"There have definitely been some nights where Lucy has kept me up all night," Wagner said. "I've even had one or two noise complaints for neighbors, but she's my dog, it's like having a child; you go through the good and the bad with them."
While these obstacles may seem difficult to overcome, research is the key to finding the right apartment for you and
your pet.
"Research, research, research," Evie Haertl, a sophomore from Wichita and owner of a black dachshund named Sadie, said. "Call as many apartment complexes as possible, and get as much info as you can, also make sure you find a place with lots of space."
When researching different apartment complexes, make sure you check out the pet weight and height restrictions that the complex may have. Kyle Peterson, a sophomore from Chicago, considered bringing one of his golden retrievers to college with him. After a lengthy search, Peterson decided he couldn't find an appropriate location for a pet and that the responsibility of caring for his dog was too much for him to handle as a student. His advice to students who want to move in with a pet?
"Start looking early," Peterson said. "You need to make sure your pet fits all the restrictions. The place I'm living at now doesn't allow pets over 50 pounds, and they have to be at least a year old."
Edited by Kelly Gibson
Daniel Johnson/KANSAN
Mary Skevington, an Overland Park senior, holds her roommate's cat Max in the kitchen of their apartment on Vermont street. Tenants at the apartment are allowed to keep pets by paying an extra security deposit to their landlord.
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