In Alaska, if a dr wants a patient to have a therapy dog, does a landlord have to allow it?

Question

We moved into this apt a few mths ago, it's a 4plex... both of the upstairs neighbors have pets, we were told we couldn't bc of the new flooring, but the neighbors that just moved in have a dog and a cat, they also have newer flooring than us.. they have fake wood floors throughout, we have carpet in the bedrooms, and the fake wood in the living room, and laminent everywhere else... I would move but we are on Alaska Housing, and have a yr contract...

Answer 1

I think what you are referring to is an emotional support animal. These are animals which courts have decided have the right to live in no pets housing on the advice of a doctor if they are needed for the persons mental health condition, or the person is elderly, etc. However like all laws landlords are only required to allow reasonable accommodations. If you do not already have a dog or cat then they would be able to have some say over the size, breed, etc of the animal. You also cannot override other state and county laws in regards to breed specific legislation, if it exists in your area.

A therapy dog is a dog who visits hospitals, nursing homes and the like to cheer people up. They are peoples pets and have no more rights than any other pet. However landlords are more likely to allow such animals as they are able to provide proof of training, health status and the like.

http://servicedogcentral.org/content/tax...

http://www.bazelon.org/issues/housing/in...

http://servicedogcentral.org/content/tax...

http://servicedogcentral.org/content/tax...

It would also be well worth putting together a pet resume for any animal you propose to have. Explain how you will care for the animal, how you will ensure that it is clean and healthy, that it will be neutered, that the dog will be walked daily, cats will have scratching posts, etc. You also need to ensure that you carry out on these things. Explain what you will do to care for the animal if you are away or ill, what vet you will use, that you know where the local dog obedicnce club is and have the ability and resources to take the dog there for training, etc. If you already have a dog in mind make sure it has its CGC before hand, so you can say that it is well behaved.

http://www.sfspca.org/opendoor/petresume...

Answer 2

You're trying to bend the rules/agreement. I used to work in the courts, and you wouldn't believe the number of lawsuits that came to the court because animals had caused damage to the property.

Answer 3

First off, talk to the owner/manager - NICELY! and tell him you will make sure or pay for any damage done to the flooring, but, as the dog is trained to do his job, I don't see what the problem is! Just make sure doggie's nails are kept short, and is house broken. He can't discriminate between that dog and cat upstairs and this therapy dog! I would rather have your's than two untrained other animals! Get a doctor's note too, that wouldn't hurt!