Florida landlord restricts tenants to only those with large breed dogs.
Every dog owning renter knows how hard it is to find landlords who will allow dogs – especially large dogs. One thing nobody ever encounters is a landlord who only allows tenants with large dogs.
And even if you could find one of those, that landlord would never allow a pit bull.
Until now.
Jade Rouzeau rents out her 3-bedroom Jacksonville home out to families, and only accepts tenants who have big dogs. If those dogs are pit bulls, they get extra points.
Rouzeau, a dog rescuer and real estate agent, has three dogs of her own, two of which are pit bulls – Maccabee, Blanche and Sanburg.
She rents the house out because her husband, Greg, is in the Navy and that role has transferred them to Norfolk, Virginia. She said people often can’t believe the listing when they see it. They think it’s too good to be true.
Rouzeau explained her preference. She said that while it is difficult to find an apartment when you have a dog, it’s usually not that difficult if your dog is small. If your dog is a large breed, it can prove impossible in many areas. Therefore, people with small dogs or no dogs don’t need her spacious rental very badly. That’s her philosophy.
The house she rents out is large, which accommodates families and their big dogs easily. It also contains a spacious back yard for the canine family members to enjoy.
This is an incredible and potentially life-saving favor that Rouzeau is doing for dog owners. In any state, but especially in the state of Florida, finding a rental which allows pit bulls is just about impossible.
Although a dog’s danger level has been proven to not be related to what breed it is, there still exists a list of commonly “restricted breeds” for renting which often includes pit bulls, Rottweilers, huskies, and other similar breeds.
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Many renters are eventually forced to give their dogs up when they can't find a home in time which will allow them to have their dogs. When those dogs get surrendered to shelters, they risk euthanasia – especially if they are pit bulls.
There is a nonprofit organization based in Minneapolis called My Pit Bull Is Family maintains a database of pit bull-friendly housing options across the U.S. Before Rouzeau’s house was up for rent, there were only two listings in all of Jacksonville which allowed restricted breed dogs.
If you are having trouble locating housing because of your dogs, contact your local rescue. Many will board dogs for as long as the owner needs to find an apartment which will allow their entire family – the four-legged ones included.
