How did you find a place to rent with three dogs? I have been looking for a year and a half now, without finding anything livable that would accept them. It drives me crazy when well-meaning friends suggest I "get rid" of some or all of them.<P>Two of them belong to my kids - one of those (the dog, not the kid) is almost 14. My parents gave away our dogs when I was a kid, and to this day I have never totally forgiven them. I would never do that to my children. I can't even imagine being dogless - I certainly wouldn't feel nearly as comfortable when the kids are home alone if I didn't have a 100 pound dog there too - after all, potential burglars don't know she'd just lick them to death. <P>It's bad enough that we have sold/given away their cows, goats, and chickens.

Hi Nellie,<P>I know what you mean. I have two dogs, and it was hell finding a place. <P>The place I have now was kind of a dump before I moved in. I agreed to do some fixing up and they never asked me any questions about animals at all. Still haven't. I keep the place nice, the dogs aren't a problem, the neighbors don't complain, etc.<P>The other alternative is to live somewhere where you think the owners will be "hands-off". There are many places that will take one dog, even one big dog. Once you are in there, if there aren't any problems (like your dogs barking all day/night) they generally don't investigate or worry too much. The goal is to keep the vast majority of unresponsible pet owners out.

Hey Nellie,<P>I was lucky I am renting from a friend and he knows how fussy I am with my house so he didn't question it. I have looked elsewhere though and what I did was offer to pay more money a month for rent as security for the dogs. Everyone I asked said yes. I think it reassures people that you will be a good renter. I also offered them to come see my previouse house.<P>Sorry you had to give up the other animals being a farm girl I know how hard that is.<P>Jill

crazy or what,<P>A couple places said they would think about it when I mentioned the dogs, but one of those places was in really awful shape, not to mention having lead paint. Right now I am not sure where I will come up with the first, last and security, which will probably be about $3600 total. <P>Giving up the farm was one of the things that precipitated my H's depression - of course now he is living in a condo without so much as a goldfish.

I have always taken such good care of every place that I lived that I feel that derserve to have the company that a pet offers. I have left every place much better than I have left it.<P>The place I live in now was way nasty when I moved in--carpet stank, walls needed painting, broken sink in the bathroom, nailholes everywhere--and I worked hard to fix the place up. We can have pets, but with a non-refundable pet deposit. I didn't even worry about it because I didn't intend to have a pet.<P>My mom brought me a little kitty--she said "With all that you have been through, I know that you need a friend." And she has been a wonderful friend, the best.<P>So my landlord comes over last week and says "Oh, gosh! The place looks great! You have done wonders!" And then she saw my cat and said 'Oh, but you have a cat. That will be $250, please." GRRRRR! Not like I have even a cent to pay her. <P>Now what?! I can't give my little friend to the pound, what do I do?

barter with her about the work you have done, before you do the work.<P>WIFTTy