Pets are now part of 94 million U.S. households, yet too many people struggle to find a place to live with their dog or cat.

Our survey of shelters and rescues in 2021 found that a lack of pet-friendly housing was among the top five most significant issues driving pet surrenders to shelters.* Even where pets are welcome, there may be restrictions on pet size or breed, or high fees for pet owners.

To keep people and pets together and end pet homelessness, communities need pet-friendly housing policies, welcoming places to live, and support to succeed as renters with pets.

This toolkit offers resources to help, including model legislation and best practices for cities, tools for rental property owners, and tips for pet parents who are looking to rent.

Model Ordinances for Cities

• Pet-Friendly Low-Income Housing
• Ending Breed-Based Pet Restrictions

Tools for Cities

• What Makes Rental Housing Pet Friendly?
• How a Pet-Friendly Apartment Registry Helps People and Pets
• Emergency Planning Toolkit: Helping Citizens Be Ready for Emergencies with Pets
• Content for Cities: Emergency Planning for Pet Parents
• HASS: Keeping Families Together: Eviction Response Toolkit

Tools for Rental Property Owners

• Benefits of Allowing Pets in Rental Housing
• Questions and Answers about Allowing Renters with Pets
• Facilities Considerations for Pet-Friendly Housing
• Safety Considerations for Pet-Friendly Housing
• Design Considerations for Pet-Friendly Housing
• Sample Pet Interview: How to Evaluate Pets for Your Property
• Sample Pet Agreement for Rental Properties
• Sample Signage: Responsible Pet Ownership Tips

Tips for Pet Parents who Rent

• Tips to be Successful Renting with Pets
• How to Be a Good Pet Neighbor
• How to Keep Pets Happy and Healthy While You’re Away from Home
• Pet Safety Tips for Entertaining
• Pet Fire Safety
• In Case of Emergency, Who Cares for Your Pet?
• Sample Letter Advocating for Pet-Friendly Housing
• Sample Pet Resume for Applying for an Apartment
• Plus, check out this helpful ApartmentGuide article with tips to help pet parents adjust to apartment life with a new dog: 8 Expert Tips for Preparing Your Apartment for a New Dog.

* KRC Research online survey of 273 representatives of U.S. shelter and rescue organizations from August 9 to August 25, 2021.