I'm having to move and looking for apartments. An issue I am running into is apartment complexes having "breed restrictions" on pets. Apparently this is because insurance companies require breed restrictions, according to the apartment complex people. They mostly don't seem to care much either way.

My dog is (probably) a pit/lab mix and I got her from a Humane Society location where I lived previously. I honestly don't really know what breed she is, but I don't give a fuck anyways. She's the sweetest and most loving dog I've ever had maybe. The only animals she doesn't like or cats and deer, and even then she'd probably learn to get along pretty quick if properly exposed to them.

Anyways, anyone have any tips for getting my dog cleared by the insurance dog eugenicists? The lady at one leasing office told me to just go to a vet and have them certify her as "brown lab mix". She made it sound pretty easy, but idk. The other option is getting her certified as an emotional support dog, which I'm not sure how to go about doing that. Anyone have any advice on this?

  • Frank [he/him, he/him]
    ·
    1 year ago

    I'm not 100% on this but I don't think ESAs are accommodated under the ADA, and at any rate all those certification websites are scams. There's no specific certification for an ESA. I think the closest thing to an official designation is getting a prescription from a psychologist, something like that, saying that you need the animal for mental health reasons.

    Maybe just get some fancy looking letterhead and write "The best of my knowledge blah blah blah Spot the dog is a brown lab mix" and sign it? Maybe get it notarized just for funsies? It's not fraud if you tell the truth, probably.

    • pooh [she/her]
      ·
      1 year ago

      and at any rate all those certification websites are scams.

      True, but do they carry any legitimacy at all is the real question. As in, the apartment complex wants to fill the unit but has to meet certain insurance requirements on paper. In reality they don't give a shit. Would it be enough to pass under their criteria?

      Maybe just get some fancy looking letterhead and write "The best of my knowledge blah blah blah Spot the dog is a brown lab mix" and sign it? Maybe get it notarized just for funsies?

      Maybe just get some fancy looking letterhead and write "The best of my knowledge blah blah blah Spot the dog is a brown lab mix" and sign it? Maybe get it notarized just for funsies?

      This is what I was thinking. Just not 100% sure if it would work.

      • Frank [he/him, he/him]
        ·
        1 year ago

        Good point. If the apartment thinks it's good enough then it's good enough.

        I swear there's something about notaries public being able to notarize sworn statements, but I'd have to do some research about it.