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Finding Homes for Home’s Best Friend
Nothing compares to the warmth and comfort of being at home. But for many dogs across America, this feeling is foreign.
According to The Humane Society, between six and eight million dogs and cats enter shelters each year. Plus, almost three million healthy shelter pets are not adopted annually, and only about 30 percent of pets in homes come from shelters or rescues.
These sobering facts are what served as the inspiration the Coldwell Banker Homes for Dogs Project. After more than 100 years of helping people find homes, the real estate company extended its mission to man’s best friend with its “Homes for Dogs Project.” By partnering with Adopt-a-Pet.com, North America’s largest non-profit pet adoption website, the Coldwell Banker network has helped to find more than 20,000 dogs their furever homes.
To increase awareness of the effort, Coldwell Banker has focused its latest advertising campaign called “Old Dog New Dog” to capture the heartfelt story of an agent giving back to her community by helping shelter animals find homes through the “Homes for Dogs Project.”
The commercial features rescue dogs, such as Max, who was adopted in 2014 after being spotted on Adopt-a-Pet.com. Before he was put up for adoption, Max was picked up as a stray and delivered to a “high kill” shelter in San Bernadino, CA. The shelter only keeps dogs for five days before it puts them down, and after Max had been at the shelter for four days, a worker reached out to The Dexter Foundation, a local non-profit dog rescue and adoption agency, which quickly rescued Max and found temporary foster care for him.
“I found him on Adopt-a-Pet.com as I was looking for a dog to rescue of that sort of breed and age,” said Kelly Saffrey, Max’s current parent. “As soon as I saw his picture, I just knew he was the pet for me.”
Adopt-a-Pet.com currently has more than 15,000 shelters and rescues in its network, and it is thrilled to be partnering with Coldwell Banker.
“We share Coldwell Banker’s view that nothing turns a house into a home more quickly than the addition of a loving pet,” said Abbie Moore, executive director of Adopt-a-Pet.com. “And we are so inspired by the desire of Coldwell Banker to launch this amazing program.”
For more information on the “Homes for Dogs Project,” head to coldwellbanker.com/homesfordogs
Source: CB Blue Matter Blog
How to Make Space for a New Pet at Home
Getting a furry friend is always an exciting time, however, it’s definitely a good idea to make a few tweaks to your home and take some precautions to ensure a happy, healthy life for the newest member of your family. Here are a few starter tips whether you’re getting a cat or dog.
In the kitchen. The biggest danger in the kitchen is when pets help themselves to toxic foods left out on the counter, or worse, from the trash. Just like humans, raw meat of any kind can be dangerous for them to ingest, as well as chocolate, onions and grapes. Some of the best ways to prevent them from eating human food are to keep counters clear, store food in hard-to-reach upper cabinets, use a pet-proof trash can and put up a pet gate during food prep and mealtime.
In the bathroom. Toilet bowl water is commonly contaminated with chemical cleaners, so you probably don’t want your pet drinking or falling into it. You can use the same toilet locks used with young children to prevent this. It’s also smart to keep bathroom counters clear of small accessories, such as hair ties, bobby pins, jewelry and makeup. Keep cleaning solutions, both here, in the kitchen and the laundry room, out of reach too. If you’re prone to keeping a dirty laundry pile in the bathroom, be sure to keep loose clothes off the floor so they don’t get torn or chewed up.
Lastly, especially for big dogs, you may want to consider integrating a pet washing station into the bathroom, mudroom or laundry room. This can be done by building out an entirely new setup or installing an extra ledge in an existing, spacious shower. Smaller dogs and cats can be easily washed in oversized utility or even kitchen sinks.
In the living room. One of the biggest concerns here is ensuring your pet doesn’t claw up your furniture. Leather and synthetic fibers are great options for sofas since they can easily be wiped clean, and carpet tiles are great alternatives to regular carpets and area rugs because you can replace any tile individually for a small price if it gets damaged.
Many pets love having a great view of the outdoors. If you have expansive windows nearby, set up a nice lounging area for them by putting a pet bed or cushion along a window seat. In addition to that, many pets also love cozying up by the fire. Be sure to protect them from getting hurt or burned by an open fire with a simple screen.
In the home office. Protect yourself against having to use the age-old excuse of “my dog ate my homework” by filing loose papers away in a cabinet or binder and away from pesky paws. Another concern here is exposed bundles of cords, which can electrocute your furry friend if they chew on them. Tuck them away or cover them with concealer cables, which have the added benefit of helping declutter your workspace.
Give them their own space. Although you’ll probably want to spend most of your day snuggling your pet, it’s also important to give them a space of their own. Their cozy corner can easily be integrated into any low-traffic zone such as the laundry room or garage where you can arrange their bed, favorite toys and food and water bowls. Crates and litter boxes have come a long way from their traditional bulky look and can now be hidden under a desk, integrated under the staircase or custom made to match your room design.
The great outdoors. Just like many of us, dogs and cats love basking in the sun and exploring nature. Consider installing a pet door so they can go in and out as they please. Add a fence or gate around your yard so they don’t run off and get lost. It’s also a good idea to have a boundary or cover for outdoor features, such as pools, ponds and fire pits, so they don’t fall in and injure themselves. Finally, exercise caution when planting garden favorites, such as daffodils, tulips and hydrangeas, since they can be toxic to dogs and cats if ingested.
Integrating technology. It’s always important to show your furry friend some love. If your budget allows, invest in one of these new technologies to keep your pet happy and healthy. Automatic pet doors that are linked to a device on your pet’s collar beat traditional versions by blocking wildlife, rodents and even snow or rain from coming in too. GPS smart collars also help keep your pet safe and able to locate in worst case scenarios. Lastly, automated water and food feeders are great alternatives to manual feedings, especially for people with busy lifestyles, and can even help your pet diet and lose weight.
Source: CB Blue Matter Blog
Adoptable Shelter Dogs Find Their Forever Homes in East Tennessee
When Coldwell Banker and Adopt-a-Pet.com announced they would once again work together to help find homes for adoptable shelter dogs, the sales professionals at East Tennessee’s Coldwell Banker Wallace & Wallace, Realtors® knew they wanted to join in.
After participating in the “Homes for Dogs” project for the past couple of years, we wanted to do something really unique to help extend our mission of guiding the way home to deserving adoptable pets in our area.
Gotcha Day
First, we decided to continue our work to support the Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley, our local Adopt-a-Pet partner. We reached out to the HSTV staff to find out which adoptable shelter dogs might need a bit of extra love and promotion to find their forever homes. After putting out a call to our agents and our community, these posts were shared hundreds of times, reaching approximately 30,000 social media users.
So far for the month of September, the Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley has posted “Gotcha Day” photos for more than 50 adopted dogs on their way to their new homes, including the ones we shared in our campaign!
Spreading the Love with Wish List Donations
The second part of our project with the Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley was collecting items from the shelter’s wish list at each of our six area office locations. We placed special donation containers in our office lobbies and people were invited to drop off greatly appreciated items. Our agents also took part, spreading lots of love with donated items.
We were able to donate six large bins of much-needed items to the shelter, to add a little comfort for those adoptable shelter dogs and cats that haven’t yet found their fur-ever families.
Gone to the Dogs Event
As part of this project, real estate agents at our Farragut office went to the dogs, literally! They hosted a special event on Friday, September 8, complete with doggie costume contests, a puppy photo booth, and delicious snacks for both human and canine attendees.
They also collected items for the Humane Society’s wishlist and used this event to spread awareness about the “Homes for Dogs” initiative. This fun event was a huge hit and everyone was on their best behavior, including some of the more frisky pups.
Helping Show the Way Home
The final part of our project was a special “Homes for Dogs” Open House event. Finding homes for adoptable shelter dogs is a wonderful undertaking, but we’re also in the business of finding homes for people. Coldwell Banker Wallace & Wallace, Realtors® ran a featured ad in our local newspaper and held a number of properties open on September 10 as part of this special event.
We invited the public to visit any of our open houses that day where they were able to register to win one of six GPS pet trackers being given away. Our intent with this aspect of the project was to help a few beloved pets make sure they always find their way back home.
Our company is lucky to have called East Tennessee home since 1936 and since then, we’ve had the honor of helping thousands of neighbors find their Knoxville home. Many of our more than 350 sales professionals are passionate pet owners, and they were thrilled to take part in this campaign to help find loving homes for adoptable shelter dogs in our community.
San Antonio Pet Adoption and Hurricane Harvey Relief
Coldwell Banker and Adopt-a-Pet.com renewed their partnership in 2017. Coldwell Banker D’Ann Harper, REALTORS® held a San Antonio pet adoption event and raised thousands of dollars for hurricane relief.
Coldwell Banker and Adopt-a-Pet.com teamed up again this year. The “Homes for Dogs” project launched in 2015 with a goal reaching 20,000 adoptions and Coldwell Banker affiliated offices nationwide joined forces and exceeded the goal.
At Coldwell Banker D’Ann Harper, REALTORS® we had planned a San Antonio pet adoption to join our Gen Blue family across the country by hosting a local pet adoption event. Our office locations span nine locations in seven cities in San Antonio and the surrounding areas. We had teamed up with local shelters, gathered resources, and promoted the National Adopt-a-Pet weekend.
What none of us could have planned for was the storm on the horizon. Hurricane Harvey made landfall on the evening of August 25 near Rockport, Texas. Home to many of our sales agents, family, friends, and sister brokerage the Ron Brown Company. The Category 4 hurricane sent wind gusts upwards of 100 mph through the Texas Coastal Bend. This area is composed of numerous small towns.
An Action Plan
We watched helplessly as the torrential rains moved along the 300 miles of Texas coastline to Houston and farther north to Beaumont. This is not only a Texas story; the storm moved painfully slow over the course of a week bringing the flood waters into parts of Louisiana, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
Without hesitation, Leesa Harper Rispoli rallied with the sales agents, employees, and partners here to formulate a plan of action. In step with our parent company, Realogy, who pledged to match up to $75,000 for Red Cross Hurricane Harvey relief funds, we launched a fundraiser directly benefiting the American Red Cross. To date this fundraiser has raised over $5,300.
Leesa put together a special message and effective immediately, on August 30, we began collecting donations. We then planned for a Big Donation Event on September 7, just ahead of our Adopt-A-Pet event on September 9. We communicated directly with our fellow Coldwell Banker family members who sustained severe damage. We continue to encourage and support their respective fundraisers found here:
HelpRockport.CBHarper.com
HelpPortA.CBHarper.com
Texans Rally Together
Even in the midst of a gas shortage caused by panic here in San Antonio, our Big Donation Event unfolded with grand success. Allen Pozzi and Richard Davies, in true Texas fashion, brought in their barbecue pit and served up brisket, sausage, and fajita tacos. Each taco sold for $2 with the proceeds earmarked for relief efforts. Over $1,387.44 was raised in monetary donations. Checks were delivered directly to the San Antonio Food Bank, a hub of distribution for those affected by Hurricane Harvey.
Hurricane Harvey Relief Donations
Physical donations came in by the truckload until our entire trailer was filled with new goods, including cleaning supplies, food, and hygiene products. Some of our donations were even sent via Amazon from other locations across the country, like ones we received from Heather Ostrom at Coldwell Banker Roseville and Rocklin. We worked with a church who organized and delivered all the items collected. They put them directly into the hands of those affected and set up a team of volunteers who are assisting in the rebuilding process.
Helping Furry Friends
With our donations delivered on Friday, we pushed forward together to promote our Adopt-a-Pet event. It was no longer about only the San Antonio pet adoption. It became about relieving the shelters who were feeling the pressure as they received incoming pets displaced by the flooding.
Cat Lodge & Leesa Harper Rispoli
Our very own Cat Lodge appeared on SALiving with TV personality Shelly Miles to voice how adopting a dog can make all the difference. Already full shelters here in San Antonio were seeing a large influx of animals that had escaped the storm or lost their families. Seeing a need, our friends at Adopt-a-Pet.com announced the release of a unique peer-to-peer platform that helps displaced people find local citizens who can provide temporary foster homes for pets until they can be welcomed back home.
On Saturday, September 9 our offices joined together with God’s Dogs, SARocks, San Antonio Pets Alive, and Pet’s Barn to take part in the nation-wide Adopt-a-Pet weekend. In total, 28 dogs found new homes, which for us is a tremendous success! Below are photos from our event and they speak louder than any words we can share.
At the end of the day, we’re all Texans. What does it mean? It means we’re family — here to lift one another up. We rise only by lifting others. So if that means raising money, donating goods, or hosting a pet adoption — count us in. If there is one thing we are passionate about here at Coldwell Banker D’Ann Harper, REALTORS®, it is changing lives by affecting real change where we can. Texas is a wonderful place to live and raise a family. If this tragedy has taught us anything, it is that we are Texas Strong. Stay on this journey with us as we continue down the path to recovery post-Hurricane Harvey . . . and Hurricane Irma. It is a long road home for some but we will reach the destination, together.
Wendy Holtorff and her family with their new pup! Congratulations!
Julie Brown and Donna Frye put in some serious “sign-holding” time — committed to pups and all things Adopt-a-Pet!
Helping Find Homes for Dogs in East Tennessee
Coldwell Banker Wallace & Wallace, Realtors® is participating in the National Pet Adoption Weekend and the Homes for Dogs Project during September by promoting adoptable dogs and holding a special “Homes for Dogs” Open House event on Sept. 10th.
Coldwell Banker Wallace & Wallace, Realtors® has been showing East Tennessee the way home for more than 80 years, and we’re excited to once again extend our mission to help find homes for dogs in our area.
Dogs Make a House a Home
Since 2015, the Homes for Dogs partnership with Adopt-a-Pet.com has helped find homes for thousands of deserving shelter dogs.
But it’s not just the dogs who benefit from being part of a loving home. There is research that shows how dogs can positively impact our psychological as well as physical health. It isn’t a coincidence that you feel better coming home to your dog after a long stressful day. Studies have found that during heart rate and blood pressure testing, patients were calmer and had better test results when a dog was present.
Plus the exuberance dogs show when you start to put on a pair of sneakers is a great motivator for enjoying more active time spent together outdoors.
Helping Dogs in East Tennessee
Coldwell Banker’s Homes for Dogs project is now in its third year, and at Coldwell Banker Wallace & Wallace, Realtors® in East Tennessee, we are ‘doggone’ happy to be taking part again.
All across the nation, real estate agents are doing their part to participate in the National Pet Adoption Weekend September 9th and 10th, 2017.
In Knoxville, we will be working with our local Adopt-a-Pet partner, the Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley. First, we’ll be promoting adoptable shelter dogs with our “10 Days of Dogs” campaign on social media. Beginning September 1st, a different shelter dog will be featured each day across all the company’s social media platforms. We hope that by helping to showcase some of these amazing furry friends, they will be that much closer to finding their forever homes.
We’re collecting items from the shelter’s wish list at each of our six area office locations. We have placed special donation containers in our office lobbies where consumers can drop off greatly appreciate items that we will deliver to the shelter. Click here to find a list of items needed by the shelter.
Finding Homes for All
Since we’re also in the business of finding homes for people, real estate agents at Coldwell Banker Wallace & Wallace, Realtors® will be holding a number of properties open on September 10th as part of this special event. We invite the public to visit any of our open houses that day and register to win one of six GPS pet trackers being given away. We’re hoping to help a few beloved pets make sure they always find their way back home. Consumers may also bring donated items for the shelter to any of our open houses on Sept. 10th.
Our company has been fortunate to be part of the community in East Tennessee since 1936. It has been our great honor to help thousands of our neighbors find their Knoxville home for more than 80 years. Many of our more than 350 sales professionals are passionate pet owners, and they look forward to taking part in this campaign to help find homes for dogs, our favorite four-legged friends.
Source: Coldwell Banker Blue MatterBlog
Coldwell Banker Offices Across America Team Up For National Adoption Weekend
Coldwell Banker and Adopt-a-Pet.com Host the Homes for Dogs National Adoption Weekend September 9-10, 2017
Su Amsden and Casey Lukowski with Coldwell Banker Coastal Alliance in Long Beach, California, have always had a love for animals. So when Coldwell Banker launched a program to help find homes for adoptable dogs three years ago, they immediately got to work on hosting an adoption event in their own community.
“It was a no-brainer,” Amsden said. “There are thousands of shelter animals who need homes. Adoption gives them a second chance at life.”
On September 9-10, 2017, hundreds of Coldwell Banker Real Estate offices and animal shelters across the country are joining Coldwell Banker Coastal Alliance for the Coldwell Banker Homes for Dogs National Adoption Weekend. The event is part of the “Homes for Dogs Project,” a program launched in 2015 by Coldwell Banker and Adopt-a-Pet.com, North America’s largest non-profit pet adoption website.
In 2015 alone, the project helped facilitate more than 20,000 adoptions through a national adoption weekend and countless local events like the ones Su and Casey hosted. Coldwell Banker made the “Homes for Dogs Project” the centerpiece of its advertising campaign to raise additional awareness. This past spring, the real estate brokerage dedicated its March 2017 commercial “Somebody to Love,” to the program, which was was applauded by the New York Times and rated one of the highest ranking ads of all time by Ace Metrix.
“Coldwell Banker is a unique position to touch local communities because of the sheer scope and passion of our network,” said David Marine, senior vice president of marketing, Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. “The ‘Homes for Dogs Project’ is more than just a campaign. It’s a unified movement that we can all rally around and know we are making a difference.”
Amsden and Lukowski agree. “Our event brings awareness to the community and is a great morale booster for the volunteers, most of whom are agents who work hard at what they do. This really brings joy to everyone involved,” said Lukowski.
Want to participate in the Homes for Dogs National Adoption Weekend? Visit: http://www.adoptapet.com/homesfordogs.
First-Time Homeowners: Everything You Need to Know About Homeowners Insurance
Oh my…this is a MUST READ for First Time Home buyers! Don’t leave home without it!
What exactly is home insurance and do I really need it?
Ready to buy your first home? Before you dot the I’s and cross the T’s on your mortgage, it is important to understand the ins and outs of homeowners insurance.
Without homeowners insurance, a property buyer is unlikely to secure a house. Homeowners insurance protects a residence and the items stored in a residence against disasters. Therefore, if your home is suddenly destroyed in a hurricane, tornado or other natural disaster, homeowners insurance guarantees you are fully protected.
Homeowners insurance should be simple, but there are many factors to consider as you evaluate all of the coverage options at your disposal.
Now, let’s take a look at five common questions about homeowners insurance.
- Why Do I Need It?
There are two reasons why homebuyers must purchase homeowners insurance:
- It enables you to protect your assets. Homeowners insurance safeguards the structure of your home and your personal property. It also protects you against liability for injuries to others or their property while they are on your property.
- Your mortgage lender probably requires you to have it. Most lenders will require you to maintain homeowners insurance for the duration of your mortgage. A lender usually will require you to list the company as a mortgagee on your homeowners policy. Moreover, if you let your homeowners coverage lapse, your mortgage lender likely will have your home insured at a much higher premium and with less coverage that what you had in the past.
Homeowners insurance is a must-have for homeowners, without exception. If you allocate the time and resources to find the right homeowners coverage, you should have no trouble protecting your house and personal belongings for years to come.
- How Does It Work?
Generally, homeowners insurance is considered a package policy because it includes a combination of coverages. The package policy focuses on the following areas:
- Dwelling: Covers the costs associated with damage to your home and structures attached to it, including any damage to electrical wiring, heating systems or plumbing.
- Other Structures: Ensures you’re protected against damage to fences, garages and other structures that are on your property but not attached to your house.
- Personal Property: Guarantees you’re covered for the value of possessions like appliances, clothing and electronics if they are lost or damaged. This coverage applies even when your personal property is stored off-site, like in a storage unit or college dorm room.
- Loss of Use: Provides financial assistance to help you cover some of your living expenses if you need to temporarily vacate your house while it is being repaired.
- Personal Liability: Offers protection against financial loss if you are sued and found legally responsible for injuries or damages to someone else.
- Medical Payments: Covers the medical expenses for people who were hurt on your property or by your pets.
Clearly, there’s a lot to consider as you evaluate a homeowners policy. Review your coverage options closely, and you may be better equipped than other homeowners to secure your house and personal belongings effectively.
- Are There Homeowners Coverage Limits?
You should get homeowners insurance that covers the full replacement cost of your home, not just the market value of your residence.
The replacement cost and market value of a residence may seem identical at first. But upon closer examination, it becomes easy to understand why you’ll want to purchase a homeowners policy that offers protection for the full replacement cost of your house.
For homeowners, the replacement cost refers to the total amount it would cost to rebuild or replace your home if it was completely destroyed. This cost may vary based on your home insurance provider and usually accounts for the plans and permits, fees and taxes and labor and materials that you would need to replace your house. However, the replacement cost does not account for the value of the land associated with your home.
On the other hand, the market value reflects what your home is worth today. It fluctuates based on the current condition of your house, the real estate market and various economic factors.
The market value of your home commonly proves to be great indicator of what your house may be worth if you intend to sell it in the near future. Conversely, when it comes to homeowners insurance, it is always better to err on the side of caution. If you calculate the full replacement cost of your home, you can insure your residence appropriately.
- Are There Optional Homeowners Insurance Coverages?
Believe it or not, a standard homeowners policy won’t cover everything. As such, you may want to consider adding some of the following optional coverages to supplement your homeowners policy:
- Flood Insurance: Floods rank among the top natural disasters in the United States, and even an inch of water can cause severe property damage in a short period of time. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) offers flood insurance coverage that will protect your home for up to $250,000 and your personal property for up to $100,000. Keep in mind that there often is a 30-day waiting period before a flood insurance policy goes into effect. This means if you want to buy flood insurance in the days leading up to a hurricane, you may be out of luck.
- Earthquake Insurance: Many Western states are prone to earthquakes. In California, Oregon and Washington, earthquake coverage is available from multiple insurance providers. Or, if you live outside these states and still want to purchase earthquake coverage, your state’s Department of Insurance can help you find licensed earthquake insurers.
- Daycare Coverage: If you take care of a friend’s children and are unpaid, your homeowners insurance offers limited liability coverage. Comparatively, if you provide daycare in your house, you will need to purchase insurance to cover the related liability.
- Additional Liability: You can purchase additional liability coverage any time you choose. These add-ons may require a nominal premium but sometimes makes a world of difference for homeowners.
Of course, if you’re unsure about which coverages you need, it always helps to consult with an insurance agent. This insurance professional will be able to respond to your homeowners insurance concerns and queries and help you get the coverages you need, any time you need them.
How Much Will It Cost?
There are several factors that will affect your homeowners insurance premium, including:
- Attractive Nuisances: If you have an attractive nuisance like a swimming pool or trampoline, you may have to pay more for homeowners insurance than other property owners.
- Coverage Options: Adding flood insurance, earthquake insurance and other coverages may cause your homeowners insurance premium to rise.
- Home Protection System: If you have a home burglar alarm, security devices for windows or deadbolts on doors, you may be able to lower your insurance premium.
- Pets: Some insurance providers won’t offer homeowners coverage if you own certain types of pets.
- The Home Itself: Your house’s age, condition, construction and distance from a fire department and water source may impact your homeowners insurance premium.
Homeowners insurance premiums will vary from person to person. But those who take an informed, diligent approach to homeowners insurance can boost their chances of getting the best homeowners policy at the lowest rate.
Homeowners Insurance Tips
Let’s face it, homeowners insurance can be confusing, particularly for those who are searching for coverage for the first time. Lucky for you, we’re here to help you discover the right homeowners policy.
Here are five tips to help you secure homeowners insurance that meets or exceeds your expectations:
- Shop around. Meet with various homeowners insurance providers and learn about different types of coverages so you can make an informed homeowners insurance decision.
- Bundle your homeowners and car insurance policies. In some instances, you may be able to save between 5 and 15 percent if you purchase your homeowners and car insurance from the same insurance company.
- Minimize risk across your house. Homeowners insurance offers immense protection, but you also can install storm shutters, enhance your heating system and perform assorted home upgrades to reduce risk across your home.
- Look at your credit score. With a good credit score, you may be able to lower your homeowners insurance premium. If you don’t know your credit score, you can request a free copy of your credit report annually from each of the three credit reporting bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion). Keep in mind that only some carriers use credit scoring.
- Stay with an insurer. If you find an insurance company that you like, stay with this company for several years, and you may be able to reduce your homeowners insurance premium over time.
There is no need to settle for inferior homeowners coverage. If you use the aforementioned tips, you can purchase homeowners insurance that guarantees your home and personal belongings are fully protected both now and in the future.
Source: CB Blue Matter
5 Signs Of A Dog-Friendly Neighborhood
Where would be without our PUPPIES!! They are family members too. Looking for a dog friendly neighborhood? Here’s how:
Look for these puppy-friendly factors before making your move.
With more than 36% of U.S. households including a dog (according to a 2012 survey from the American Veterinary Medical Foundation), it’s no surprise that finding a pet-friendly neighborhood is an important consideration for many homebuyers. But how can you tell which neighborhoods are truly welcoming to your four-legged friends? Here’s what to look for on the house hunt.
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1. You see a lot of dogs out and about
An obvious sign of a pet-friendly neighborhood is one that has lots of dogs exploring with their humans. You want to make sure that people, neighbors, landlords, and business owners are going to welcome your pet, and the best indicator of that is if there are lots of other dogs around, says Janine Acquafredda, co-founder of Realtors 4 Rescues, a nonprofit that helps keep animals out of shelters. And where there are lots of dogs, there are lots of dog owners that care about animals, so your dog will be in a safer and happier environment. There’s more to this pet activity than just scoping out the canine social scene, though. A neighborhood with lots of dog activity is also much more likely to have dog-loving neighbors and those nearby dog-lovers are much more likely to help you find your pup if he ever gets loose or runs away.
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2. There’s a nearby dog park and the dogs playing in it look happy and relaxed
Not all dog parks are created equal, and you want to be sure the one near your future home will be a pleasant experience for your pooch. Read: the big dogs aren’t picking on the little guys. (For a quick scan of nearby green spaces your dog might enjoy, check out Trulia Maps and the Places to Play layer.) Visit on a weekend morning, when the park is likely to be crowded, says Amy Robinson, a dog trainer and dog expert in Vero Beach, FL. Observe the owners too. Are they watching their charges or chatting and drinking coffee while their dog is a hundred yards away? How clean is the place? Are people picking up after their dogs? All of these answers will give you an idea of what type of dog and owner frequent the park, she says. Bonus: Hanging at the dog park can help you make friends in your new neighborhood.
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3. You can easily find an animal shelter, veterinarian, and pet supply store
The existence of all three essentials shows that the community cares about the well being of animals, says Ashley Jacobs, CEO of Sitting For A Cause, a site that matches pet owners with local petsitters. When you have a community who cares about animals, keeping them healthy and controlling the pet population, that’s always a telltale sign that your dog will be welcome and loved, she says.
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4. There are plenty of sidewalks and places to walk
We bought our house because of the size of the lot .98 acres for the dogs, says Peter Taylor, a photographer who has three dogs and lives in Mountainbrook, a neighborhood in Charlotte, NC. And the roads are wide, with very little through traffic, great for walking. After all, you’ll walk your dog often, so you’ll want a neighborhood that makes this accessible. In addition to sidewalks, are there trails or beaches to explore? Bonus points if the neighborhood provides waste bags or dog-accessible water bowls, which are a sure sign an area welcomes pooches, says Jacobs.
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5. Places for people also welcome pets
If a neighborhood looks promising, call or stop by some of the local restaurants, stores, or coffeehouses and ask about their policy on pets. Look for dogs lounging on local restaurant patios while their human family members enjoy lunch or dinner nearby. Spotting dog treats on the counter at the neighborhood bakery or brewery is a good sign. These little extras will enhance the quality of life for you and your pet and make your new neighborhood feel like home.
Source: Trulia Blog
