Finding a decent place to live in Abbotsford on a student’s budget can be a challenge, to say the least. An even harder task, however, is finding a place that allows pets.
While looking on Craigslist, the number of suites available that actually allow pets are few and far between. As much as I love animals, I can see why landlords don’t allow them: they can cause significant damage, are constantly noisy, and poop wherever they please. However, children do the same, and you cannot place a ban on having children.
According to the B.C. government, a landlord is allowed to set the rules regarding the size, kind, and number of pets, and can make other pet-related rules that the tenant must follow. A reasonable, personable landlord will at least be willing to negotiate the ownership of pets, especially a landlord whom you have a long-standing relationship with and have proven your worth as a responsible tenant. However, it is well within the landlord’s right to deny you from having a pet, which is really too bad considering the benefits that pet ownership can have upon a student’s life.
There is no doubt that petting a furry creature for a while vastly improves a student’s mental health, which improves their ability to study. Research shows that  having access to therapy animals on campus reduces feelings of loneliness, depression, and anxiety in college students. I would prefer the company of dogs to humans any day. As a person who appreciates cuddling, but not talking, I am all for owning a dog, or cat, or any furry animal really. And after a stressful day at work or school, there is no better feeling than coming home to a dog that is out-of-their-mind excited to see you. Owning a dog encourages exercise and makes a great ice-breaker for people who are really weird about meeting other people. Owning a pet also teaches immature college students how to be responsible for another living being. A pet requires you to manage your time, money, and energy better than if you just had yourself to worry about.
According to a study done by the Angus Reid Institute, 63 per cent of B.C. respondents felt it was within a landlord’s rights to prevent their tenants from owning pets. According to Canada Mortgage and Housing, landlords in B.C. can legally deny potential tenants based on whether or not they own pets, as well as bar tenants from adopting a pet while they are still under the lease agreement.
Sadly, I have never lived in a place that has allowed cats or dogs. If you had any idea how much I love animals, you would realize what a shame that is. But I have found ways to work around it: by bargaining with landlords to be able to keep small pets, such as guinea pigs and rabbits, by walking dogs for a little extra cash, or by house-sitting for friends who own cats.
If you live in a place that doesn’t allow pets, yet are missing the company of animals, seek alternatives like I did. If you are absolutely desperate to own a pet, let that be your motivation to complete your degree so that you can get a higher paying job that will allow you to live somewhere other than an $800 Abbotsford basement suite with landlords that control your life choices.
Image: Kayt Hine/The Cascade
Andrea Sadowski is working towards her BA in Global Development Studies, with a minor in anthropology and Mennonite studies. When she's not sitting in front of her computer, Andrea enjoys climbing mountains, sleeping outside, cooking delicious plant-based food, talking to animals, and dismantling the patriarchy.
