Got an inquiry on a place I have listed. I gave them the canned response of go to my website and fill out the showing request. I'm hoping that will be just enough to get rid of them.

On the inquiry message, they listed they have an ESA and doctor's prescription to go along with it. At first, I was thinking that at least they knew what they were talking about. Most folks just say "service animal" and they are "registered". However, they went on to say it's a Great Dane that is 6 months old. Oy vey! I'm sure this dog is an ESA because they know that no LL is going to allow it as a pet. Great Dane's are HUGE! To top it off, this one is a puppy! They have no clue what they are doing at that age!

If they apply, I will of course follow all guide lines and accept the ESA with no extra fees/deposit. I might have to do more frequent inspections and issue notices to cure for every issue I find. Digging in the yard would be enough from what I've seen on other Great Dane pups. Love the dog to be honest, but there's also a reason I don't have one.

Had a Great Dane in one of my places years ago. It constantly ran the perimeter of the fenced back yard. After 1 year of that, the grass on its path was dead. The dirt was compacted like concrete. After getting rid of the tenant, I had to dig up the soil and aerate before getting grass to grow there again.

I don't understand the mentality of someone who is a renter getting a great dane puppy. Might as well hang a sign around your neck saying "don't rent to me". What other poor choices do they make?

Doogie,

The doctors will give anyone a letter. Their assistant pulls the stock letter from the digital file, inserts name, print, and signs.

I wonder if they charge for it.

You already know - document the inquiry and that you invited her to apply.

Reminder: My application states 'Note: Misrepresenting a service animal is fraud by state law and may result in up to $5000 fine and possible jail time.' ESAs are now super rare.

BRAD

Doogie,

The doctors will give anyone a letter. Their assistant pulls the stock letter from the digital file, inserts name, print, and signs.

I wonder if they charge for it.

You already know - document the inquiry and that you invited her to apply.

Reminder: My application states 'Note: Misrepresenting a service animal is fraud by state law and may result in up to $5000 fine and possible jail time.' ESAs are now super rare.

BRAD

PS

I have been thinking about factoring in the affordability calculations the number of persons and animals. Each adds to the cost of living, just like large vehicle payments.

A great Dane would be triple the normal dog cost.

Can't you still require ALL animals - ESA or pet - to be at least 1 year old?

And other reasonable things like neutered?

I often wonder about this - the law say for example a service animal could be a mini horse........but what happens when you are offering a small flat of an apartment. Small horses typically don't belong indoors to begin with, but especially not in a small apartment.

I believe the LL can refuse an ESA if it would cause undue hardship for the property and/or other tenants. For example, having a rooster in an apartment.... loud crowing. Or a mini-pig that is stuck inside all da with no place to go wander around.

My sister and her deadbeat got a Dane pup. They camp in their RV all over so they decided to get ESA paperwork so they could still take the mutt with them to non animal friendly parks.

I heard thru the grapevine that even though they have a giant bus type RV the dog is too big.

I don't talk with them any more because of the ESA crap and the handicap placard they kept when her mother-in-law died.

DJ,

As I have been taught we cannot use ANY criteria for support animals - age, shots, fees, etc.

To SID's point about bothersome animals - he's correct but that would be a HUGE uphill battle dealing with the Fair Housing office who fight for people's rights to ESAs.

[[[[[....... As I have been taught we cannot use ANY criteria for support animals - age, shots, fees, etc......]]]]

If you are in an area where state or local law requires a rabies vaccination for all dogs, you can require a current rabies vaccination for a dog and that is about the only thing you can require of a support animal.

You are allowed to reject if the dog is vicious or more than normally destructive. And that individual dog must show violent tendencies and not just be of a breed that might be violent.