Good friend coming to visit…with his dogs. My apartment doesn’t accept dogs. What should I do?
The backstory:
He has been a very good friend ever since high school. He will be in the process of moving across country shortly (Wisconsin to Oregon). On the way, he will be stopping by to visit me in Missouri (he has been trying to find time to come out for a while). He will be with staying for what could be as short as an extended weekend to maybe about a week. It’s kind of a play it by ear thing.
The possible rubs:
My apartment building doesn’t allow dogs.
My apartment building is notorious for thin (non-soundproofed) walls, so if we were to sneak 'em in, and they were to do any barking, we could easily be found out by the neighbors.
I have a cat that would be freaked out, but could be confined to part of the apartment if neccessary.
I have a roommate. The apartment is big enough for the both of us. With my friend visiting, it will get a bit more cozy. With the dogs, it could get uncomfortable. As of this writing, I don’t know how she is with dogs. I could totally see her as beinig totally fine with them.
When I mentioned the possible complications with my friend, he was thinking they might be able to stay in his van, but this will be in January. And even though Missouri ain’t Minnesota, I don’t want the doggies to suffer in the cold.
Doggie boarding is a possibility but would be expensive.
I’d pass it by your rommate, and if she’s ok with it, why not ask your immediate neighbors? Just tell 'em you’re having a friend with some dogs over for a couple days, and if they’re too loud, don’t be afraid to call or knock on the door. If the neighbors are ok with it, then you can tell your friend the conditions–the dogs are welcome as long as the neighbors are happy, and if the dogs become a problem, they’ll have to leave. I’d also have someplace lined up where they can go, like a motel which accepts pets. Or, like you mentioned, a kennel.
Sneaking them in is an option, but not worth the constant worry, IMO. Much easier to just let folks know what’s going on.
Let your super know, too. My building allows dogs, but one that I was in when I was a kid had an ABSOLUTELY NO DOG rule. One neighbour, however, got permission to keep a friend’s dog while the friends moved to a new place - total, about a week or so. Basically under the conditions that the dog (s) are quiet and don’t disturb the neighbours, and that it is just a temporary stay.