Help. No one to look after dog!!

[JustForADay]

We had a flood in our house, it needs major restoration work which we were luckily insured for.
We've been told that work will take 3-4 months and we can't stay in the house so need to find alternative accommodation, again we're covered for the costs - insurance are paying for a 6 month lease for us. However, no landlord will take a dog, he's well behaved but fairly large (schnauzer) .
No one in the family is prepared to look after him for that length of time, which I understand.
Really stuck as we don't want to put him in kennels as he's nervous around other dogs anyway. Home boarding won't take him for that length of time.
Does anyone have any ideas?

Neighbours? Any dc's friends with nice family?

Could you ask at the vet? I fostered for a charity years ago and had a huge huge ginger dcat while a woman and her dc were in a refuge..
Vet may know of such a person...

Sometimes landlords will allow pets if you pay an additional deposit, it's worth asking. I know a number of people with pets in private rental accommodation.

Will any of your friends/family be able to house the dog for a shorter period, maybe 4 weeks each, and he can move around on rotation (not ideal, but less of a commitment per household)

Could you ask the Cinnamon Trust for advice? Some of their volunteers may be prepared to help? cinnamon.org.uk/cinnamon-trust/

A similar thing happened to my parents but it was a house fire and they had 3 dogs. They just had to ask a few landlords about paying extra deposit. It took a few attempts but they found one. In the meantime they found a hotel that accepted dogs and had a room with access to the garden

Ask at all your local vets and grooming parlours if they know anyone who fosters

Ask around trusted friends - before we had our own dog, I would very happily have had a dog for a couple of months in the hope that DC might stop pestering me to have one (long enough time for the novelty to wear off)!) but obviously you could only do that with someone you trust and who has done doggy experience

Do make sure costs and expectations are clearly set out at the very outset, whatever arrangement you end up with

The government have capped deposits. Apparently the new rules are adversely affecting pet owners, who rent . Landlords are now less likely to take the risk.

Couldn't you offer to pay increased rent in lieu of higher deposit to compensate for extra wear and tear? Dog damage can be expensive to sort.

@womaninatightspot

Couldn't you offer to pay increased rent in lieu of higher deposit to compensate for extra wear and tear? Dog damage can be expensive to sort.

Sounds like a good idea.

Honestly? Don't tell the landlord.

The worst they can do is either
A) evict you after the end of your 6 month fixed tenancy period (which you don't care about - you'll be back in your new home)
B) deduct money from your deposit if the dog has caused damage (but not for merely being there - and even the full loss of your deposit would be less than the cost of kennels)
C) refuse to give you a reference (which is irrelevant for you as you'll be moving back to your old house)

To keep the hassle down, either refuse any mid tenancy inspections (as is your right), or ensure the dog is out for a walk + beds etc are out of sight before an inspection.

I'm renting and have a dog, so I'm well aware of how hard it is to find properties. I've got permission at this property, but I honestly would just fail to mention DDog to the landlord in your situation.

Please don't do what Avocado suggests. If someone did that and then the dog ruined my flat not only would it be really upsetting, but the cost of putting it right and the loss of rent for any repair would potentially wipe me out financially. Landlords aren't all rolling in money. Also, it's just horrible that anyone would consider it, just using someone and preying on them for your own gain knowing you risk leaving them in a worse position.

That said. If you came to me with a plan for a) mitigating my risk and b) we're open and honest with me then I'd let you just have the dog in the house/flat.

Or the fostering thing. That sounds good.

Round our way we have several dog sitters who have dogs in their own home, have a google or look on local fb pages.

I wouldn't tell them either.

My friend is in temporary homeless accommodation with a secret dog. It was either lie of give away her dog who is her best friend and also her emotional support dog, that's gotten her through the roughest time in her life when she had no human support. Dog is so well behaved and has caused no damage at all.

Friend is going to get carpets all professionally cleaned when she leaves as a curtosy but landlord will never know.

I would offer to pay more of a deposit.
Failing that, kennels, the insurance should cover the cost.

I own a kennel and had a long stayer when they had a flood/ceiling collapsed.
He did okay. Was ready to go home when everything was up straight, bless him.

Our landlord has an agreement that if we want a pet we pay £60 extra a month, might be worth asking?

Or kennels would be your best option.

Do you have pet insurance? Mine covers costs of temporary rehoming in events like these. I'm not poistive without looking, but I think it might also cover insuring the dog in temporary relocations for things like this. Worth checking the other clauses - pet insurance often covers much more than just vet fees.

Not sure if this is any use, as haven’t used them myself, but this website might at least have some useful advice.

www.letswithpets.org.uk/find-a-pet-friendly-property/find-a-pet-friendly-property

I think you need to find another rental that will take dogs. Have you looked at AirBnB? Lots of those will take a dog.

A lady on Nextdoor.com recently asked for someone to help take of her elderly dog ( for a reason I can’t recall) and she had a lot of very positive responses.

I’m a landlord that takes pets-they are out there. Keep looking.

Just don't tell them. You'll be gone soon enough anyway and it's not like you need a reference. If the dog does any damage, deal with that then. No point in jumping through all kinds of hoops for a short term arrangement for harm that may occur.

Do keep looking for a rented place that takes dogs - I've had two dogs for 10 years and have moved about six times in that period - I've never had a problem. Sign up with all the agents so they have your details and get to know you. You are also in a good position where you can (presumably) move soon which will score you some points, too. Don't give up as there are lots of places that take pets. And if it doesn't say in the ad, do ask. Also offer to pay an additional deposit if need be.

Might also be worth putting an ad on Gumtree and other local sites (local Facebook page) asking if there are any local landlords who have short term properties.

Thank you all for your suggestions. I've emailed ddog's vet to see if she can come up with any suggestions.
Hopefully dog can come with us, id be devastated not having him with us. Going to look at Airbnb now, and ring round letting agents slightly further afield tomorrow.
Fingers crossed🤞thank you all for your suggestions x

We once got a dog in a house that we thought we could have a dog based on what the agent said but when we got one we were told that we had to get rid of the dog or move out. We were breaching the terms of our agreement.