Do you have a dog but live far from campus? Yeah, that sucks, man. Many realty agencies lease houses and apartments to us students, but they strictly say "No Pets" in the ad. It's sad because you love the location and the apartment, yet you can't live there because Fiddo isn't allowed to live there. For some of us students, in my opinion, living close to campus is a must for, so why can't it be a must for Fiddo, too?

I can understand why some property owners won't allow pets in their properties, though. The animals will destroy something or there will be more insurance stuff to deal with. But in all honesty, I believe rental agencies and property owners can become more pet-friendly towards their renters by doing a few things.

1. Have a pet application on the website.

I think my apartment is one of the closest pet-friendly apartments to campus. I had to fill out a pet application for my dog, which included her breed, age, weight, date of last rabies, if she was housebroken or not, and whether she was an inside or outside dog. I think when I applied, they also asked for a photo of MudLynn. I mean, it's great for them to have on file, but they don't really meet the dog.

2. Have a pet fee down payment and a monthly payment.

Belleau Woods Apartments in Bellingham, Washington, does this with their tenants where they pay a pet fee of $600 and then on top of that a $30 monthly fee. That is kind of good to have because then those monthly fees can pay for any damages the pet inflicts on the apartment. Fairhaven Park-Padden Apartments do the $600 fee as well, but a $10 monthly fee (but they are farther from campus the closest campus).

3. Interview the pet.

I honestly believe that this should be a thing with rental agencies. We often discriminate against dog breeds because of their look or their size. By doing an interview with owner and pet, the rental agents can get to know the dog. I think this pet interview should determine whether or not someone should get the apartment or house.

4. When it comes to the renter, the agency can ask for proof of employment.

I've been thinking about what it is that makes homeowners or property owners so against letting their tenants have pets... Then I thought, maybe they think we aren't responsible for owning one. If you have a job that you've held for the past six months or year, that should show them that you are prepared to pay for your pet's needs.

In the end, if you are looking for an apartment, try using these points to see if it can get you into the apartment you want. Make a pet resume and a pet cover letter to add some more persuasion to the mix. Show them that your Fiddo is suitable to live in that house.