We went through a little bit of a learning curve when we first starting managing properties with respect to pet policies. When we first started, we used to allow all kinds of dogs. We always placed a restriction on the number of dogs allowed, , always less than 2, and even a weight limit for smaller apartments and condos. However with breed, we were convinced at the time that all dogs were in general good family dogs. Well, we were wrong.

One rental that we had was in southwest Medford, 3br/2ba 1,300 square foot home with a nice sized backyard. We rented to a Lady in her 50′s and she had moved in around June 15. She did not have any pets at the time, so we did not have a pet deposit, nor a pet addendum.

During our initial 3rd month drive by inspection, we noticed that there were 4 legged, black feet running around behind the fence and the occasional bark coming from behind the fence. Upon further inspection we found that the Tenant had gotten not 1, but 2 Rottweillers. Oh boy!

Well, we immediately called the Tenant and asked what the deal was. She said said that she had to watch her son’s dog for her for a couple days as he was travelling…. OK, looking back, this should have been warning flag number 1. So we allowed her 3 days to hold the dog and if it is not gone after that, then they will be required to pay a pet deposit and fill out the pet addendum.

Ont he fourth day, as agreed, we are onsite to inspect and ensure that the dogs were gone. They were still there. She gave us some excuse now that her son had to travel again. We were not buying it an insisted that she paid or we woulc evict her. She then said that she didn’t have the money so she couldn’t. ($200 pet deposit at the time) So then we give her to hte next day to come up with the money. Miraculously she did, we completed the paperwork and all is well….right? Nope.

2 weeks later we perform an interior inspection, as anyone should do after allowing a new pet into their rental. All was well so far.

The story continues 3 weeks later when we received the rent check from her son, not her. We just brushed it off as she just probably needed him to pay for her that month, something of the sort. The month goes on quietly with no issues. So then again we receive the rent check from her son and not her. OK, now something is fishy.

We immediately call the Tenant on record and have a real hard time getting ahold of her. We show up at the rental and cannot get someone to come to the door. We call her that night again and finally get ahold of her. We question her about receiving the rent check from the Son. She sais that she ran into money problems and needed to have her son take over the rental. Being new in the Property Management role, we allowed it. Why not? He was paying rent and it was on time…no harm, no foul, right?

OK, so about 2 weeks after this event we get a call from the neighbor to the rental who tells us that one of the rotweillers next door had chewed a whole in the wooden fence big enough for it to fir through. (by the way the home next door is also a child care facility) Then the rotweiller proceeded to chase down her dog whom was in the backyard, and mangled it close to death…..come on…really? This is really not happening!

So it doesn’t end there either. The female rotweiller was pregnant and just had a litter of pups. Long story short, we
finally evicted them with a for cause eviction that I won’t get into…I have been rambling on long enough in this blog as it is.

Moral of this terrible experience:
1. When you receive a rent check from anyone else besides a person on the application….get to the bottom fast.
2. Don’t allow Rotweillers or Pitbulls in your Medford Oregon Rentals. We have had more problems (and this is the experience and opinion of most other Landlords we know) with these 2 breeds than any others.
3. If someone brings a pet onsite without an agreement prior…..think very hard about evisting them right away. Here ist he deal, if they are willing to lie to you about this, then will be equally as willing to lie to you about other things. And guess what, all of the things that they will want to lie to you about will be related to them not taking good care of your Property Owners property.
4. Don’t believe the “stories”. Medford has their fair share of folks that will not care about you or the property.
5. Our rule of thumb: When we catch a Tenant in a lie (even if it is a white lies and not even related to rental issues), we keep a real close eye on them….real close.

If this post helps one Proeprty Owner avoid a potential issue I will be a happy camper. Property Management in Medford is not for the faint hearted. We learned this lesson early on, over 2 years ago, and I wouldn’t wish this Tenant on my worst enemy.

Patrick & Shelly Rogers
New Foundations Property Management, Medford Oregon