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| (c) Flickr User Clay Larsen |
Dogs are wonderful companions to those with children or those who live alone but don’t want to be lonely. They can be the bonding link in a family, a way to test one’s ability to care for others, or added protection from both human and animal intruders.
It’s a good idea to be prepared for an animal friend because they significantly change the way you go about home security, holiday planning, and home selling. Let’s examine these situations one by one, shall we?
Doggy Door
Your dog can contribute to home security him- or herself – especially if he or she is large enough to scare off human intruders. Unfortunately, there are security risks involved with having a doggy door as well. If you’re kind enough to give your pet a doggy door so that it can go in and out at will, you’re effectively leaving a hole in your security. Not only does a doggy door make it easier for human intruders to sneak into the house or circumvent your other security measures, but it will allow almost any other type of small animal to roam into your place when you and your dog aren’t home. And if you haven’t had a raccoon or skunk pay you a visit, know that it’s not of the most pleasant experiences. Not only can the animal loot your place for food and other goodies, but it can often leave you a nice “greeting” on the floor, on your bed, or in your bathtub. (Learn more about Raccoon control and about the animal itself.)
To keep unwanted animal intruders out, you will likely have to install a lockable doggy door so that you can secure the house while you’re away or asleep. This will, however, prevent your dog from moving inside or outside the house as well — unless you teach him or her to use handles and keys, that is.
On the bright side, a doggy door is a great way to maintain tidiness in your house on all other occasions. If you can train your dog to run outside of the house after its meal, you’ll save yourself plenty of headaches — and arm aches.
Doggy Holidays
Each time you go for a longer holiday, you’ll have to find somebody to take care of your pet, or you’ll have to take him or her with you. Taking a pet along is easy if you’re driving and are visiting pet-friendly places along the way, but forget about flying with your dog or taking him or her on a ship unless you absolutely have to. The mere hassle and stress imposed upon your beloved animal friend make it not worth the effort in most circumstances.
Either way, you’ll have to make sure that your pet receives enough food and liquids while you’re travelling, and that her or she has suitable conditions (temperature, shade, moisture, et cetera) to get by comfortably in your absence.
Selling and the Dog
When you decide to put your house on the market, you can expect visitors who wish to tour your property and see how they like it. In these cases, even a perfectly trained dog in the house can cause trouble. Sometimes, your potential buyers may be allergic to pets and may refuse to tour houses with pets in them. Other times, when your buyers own their own pets, your dog may be more aggressive or unfriendly towards them, which definitely does not bode well for you. In the extreme case, your buyers may bring their own pet along (although this is very rare and rather unwise of them), at which point a cataclysmic clash of the titans may ensue in your home.
Nothing of the above may be your fault, but if any of it happens to you, it won’t increase the likelihood of your attracting that particular buyer.
For these reasons, it’s wise to plan ahead when you’re considering selling your house and to find a friend or relative who would take care of your pet until the transaction comes to a close. While this may seem a harsh measure to you, not having a dog at home will allow you to perform thorough cleaning procedures without risking poisoning your pet. It will allow craftsmen or craftswomen to repair or upgrade your dwelling without annoying your dog or vice versa, and it will decrease the likelihood of a debilitating allergic reaction chasing your buyers away.
You can move your dog with you into your new place in the end, after all, and he or she will be happy to “gain new territory.”
Author Bio: Whatever your needs and wants, work with The Julie Kinnear Team to ensure that your Toronto real estate transaction is as smooth as possible and that you’ll find a pet-friendly new home for you and your furry friends.
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