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1. Housing and Pets

Rental housing advertised as "pet friendly" allows pets who have not been designated as emotional support or service animals. The vast majority of pet policies for these properties have restrictions in place regarding the number of pets permitted in each unit as well as the type, breed or size of pet. Most properties also charge an extra deposit and/or monthly pet rent. With that said, some properties that are not advertised as being pet-friendly will accept pets on a case-by-case basis.

• While securing pet-friendly housing can be difficult, there are many actions you can take to boost your chances of finding a rental that will welcome your pets.
• We also recommend utilizing rental sites such as Apartment List or My Pit Bull is Family.org , which is a National searchable database for rental properties without breed or size restrictions.
• If your primary concern is a no pets policy, you may want to explore requesting a reasonable accommodation for your pet. According to the  CDC , one in four Americans lives with a disability. See the assistance animals section above to determine if your pet meets the criteria for an emotional support or service animal.

Helpful Tips for Finding Dog Friendly Housing:

1. Start your search as early as possible to give yourself the best chance of finding a rental that suits your needs. 
2. Be calm and understanding if the landlord says no to your dog initially. Your positive but persistent attitude will increase your chances of the landlord hearing your case.
3. Create a pet resume that includes the points below (try canva.com for free resume templates you can modify for your pet) :

• Your dog’s name and a warm photo of your dog. (Bonus points if you are together in the photo!)
• Any skills, professional training or funny personality quirks your dog has.
• Letters or quotes of recommendation from your current landlord, veterinarian, neighbors or trainers you’ve worked with.
• Your dog’s spay/neuter and vaccination status. You can obtain your pet's records at your vet's office.
• What you will do with your dog when you are not home, how your dog gets exercise and any other activities you enjoy together.
• Describe how you will care for the property: laying down rugs inside, picking up after your dog, crating him when you are away to prevent damage and ensuring he does not disturb other tenants by barking excessively.

4. Offer the landlord a chance to meet your well-behaved dog, either in person or virtually via video. During the meeting, ask your dog to show off his best tricks. 
5. Purchase renters insurance (around $20/month) and let your landlord know in your application. (State Farm does not ask about breed for renters insurance.)
6. If your pet acts as an assistance animal (either emotional support or service animal), the landlord may request documentation of your disability-related need for the animal.

2. Financial Assistance for Veterinary Care

NATIONAL AGENCIES

**Bow Wow Buddies Foundation
Grants up to $2500 for serious conditions, excluding preventative care, spay/neuter surgeries, dental work, ongoing treatments or end-of-life care. Online application required.
bowwowbuddies.com

Brown Dog Foundation
Small organization with limited funding for life-saving emergency veterinary care only. Priority is given to pet families who have a veterinarian that they see regularly. Online application required.
browndogfoundation.org

FluffyRX
Discount card for prescription pet medication.
fluffyrx.com

Frankie's Friends
Grants up to $1500 for emergency and specialty medical conditions that already have a diagnosis and treatment plan in place. Online application required.888-465-7387
frankiesfriends.org

Friends and Vets Helping Pets
Grants for pets with curable medical issues including broken bones and tumors. Online application required.859-309-2043
friendsandvetshelpingpets.org

**The Mosby Foundation
Provides grants for dogs on a one-time basis for critical, non-emergency treatment that has not yet been performed. Online pre-application required.540-885-2260
themosbyfoundation.org

Onyx & Breezy Foundation
Grants for veterinary care for families experiencing hardship. Must apply to Care Credit first. 
onyxandbreezy.org

PAWS 4 A Cure
Up to $500 grants for non-routine veterinary care for families experiencing hardship. Must apply to Care Credit first.
paws4acure.org

Pet Assistance, Inc. 
Grants for longtime pet owners whose companion animals have been diagnosed with an urgent or life-threatening medical issue. Online application required.
petassistanceinc.org

The Pet Fund
Grants for non-emergency, non-basic veterinary care, such as cancer treatment, heart disease or other chronic conditions. Email before applying. [email protected]
thepetfund.com

Pets of the Homeless
Provides pet food, grants for urgent veterinary care and other support services for homeless pet families.775-841-7463
petsofthehomeless.org

RedRover
Grants around $250 provided for urgent veterinary care. Must have a diagnosis and treatment plan already in place. Online application required.916-429-2457
redrover.org

**Funding is available for dogs only

LENDING AGENCIES

CareCredit
Credit card company for healthcare and veterinary care.800-677-0718
carecredit.com

LendUp
Instant decision on loans of up to $250 for 30 days, and proven borrowers up to $1,000.
lendup.com

Scratchpay
Web-based veterinary financing service.
scratchpay.com

Wells Fargo Health Advantage
Credit card for vet care (apply online).
retailservices.wellsfargo.com

3. Behavior Issues

Bark Buster Home Dog Training (877) 500-BARK (2275)

K9 Learning Center
Watervliet, MI
(269) 341-3105

Mutterly Love
200 Kerth St
Saint Joseph , MI 49085
(269) 983-6888
[email protected]

PetSmart Dog Training
1042 Fairplain DrBenton Harbor, MI 49022
(269) 926-1057

Stay & Obey
4316 N. Roosevelt Rd
Stevensville MI 49127
(269) 465-OBEY (6239)
[email protected]