My roommate–a guy whom I didn’t know until January–and I share an off-campus apartment by the University we both attend. Things are OK; we’re not best buds or anything, but we co-exist.
He went home this weekend, while I stayed at the apartment. He came back at around 9 PM tonight with a little puppy in his arms. Our complex has a no-pets policy; “Never fear,” says he, “about the dog peeing and pooping on our stuff: he’s ‘paper trained’.” (Evidently–never having been a pet owner myself–being “paper trained” means that the dog will still go to the bathroom within the apartment, but he’s kind enough to keep it confined to newspaper laid on the ground–this still does nothing for the stench or the sheer “disgustingness” of it.)
This is all very irritating, very immature, and very irresponsible to me. My roommate, from what I’ve seen from him, doesn’t understand what responsibility is, and I have no doubt that I’m going to end up bearing most of the tasks that the dog will require. But, in spite of my tone throughout this so far, I do like dogs, and this one is adorable and seemingly nice.
But now it’s 1 AM and the dog is crying (he’s only 10 weeks). That’s understandable. What’s less understandable is that my roommate is apparently camped outside the dog’s room (yes, the dog was given his own room, the guest room), “Shhh”-ing the dog everytime it starts to wimper. DUDE, YOU’VE DRAGGED THE DOG INTO A STRANGE PLACE AND ARE KEEPING IT ISOLATED IN A DARK ROOM–IT’S GOING TO FREAKING CRY AT FIRST!
Are you, though? Did you put a deposit on this apartment? You will lose it if they find out you have a dog - and they’ll find out - it can’t shit on newspaper forever. If these apartments are in high demand or if management is particularly strict, they could kick you out. You are breaking your lease. It might even fuck up your credit. This is not a good idea. Very disrespectful thing for your roommate to do.
Damn, mshar256, that was really an irresponsible thing for your roommate to do. You need to put your foot down and have him return the dog. Or give it to a responsible person who has a house with a yard and has time to stay home with the puppy.
Has your roommate ever raised a puppy before? I adopted an 11 week old puppy and set her up with a bed in the laundry room for the night. Uh-uh, bad idea. She howled for half the night until I took pity on her and brought her into my room to sleep. I figured a dog will avoid going to the bathroom where it has to sleep, and in this case, fortunately, I was right. She settled down and became quiet and managed to avoid making a mess in the bedroom. However, having said that, the dog may not be housebroken until it is at least six months old. Puppies need to eat three times a day. A small puppy just can’t hold its waste in long enough to become housebroken in a matter of days, even if it learns where you want it to go to the bathroom. Unless you can watch it enough to let it out 5 or 6 times a day. If you don’t have a fenced-in yard, your roommate will need to walk the dog on a leash, or stand by and watch over it the whole time it is outside. And of course clean up after it.
And the chewing! Puppies grow two sets of teeth, like humans do. The whole time it is teething, it will chew on cushions, furniture, baseboards, rugs, towels, anything it can get in its mouth. A puppy is just not a good pet for someone who has to attend class daily and cannot stay home to raise it. Older dogs are OK with being left alone. They can handle being left indoors for a few hours and will generally spend their time alone napping.
Puppies need almost 24/7 attention for their first 9 or 10 months. They need monthly booster shots to develop their immune systems until they are six months old. And the puppy really should be neutered or spayed. From what you’ve said, your roommate does not sound responsible enough to do any of this. Since your lease does not permit pets, you really must urge your roommate to find a new home for the puppy.
Did you tell your roomie that you’re not all that concerned about the paper training, but more concerned about the possibility of eviction? It’s kind of hard to concentrate on your studies while you’re living on the curb.
Your room-mate is completely irresponsible and unaware of basic societal norms. Get out now: even if the dog issue is resolved, you are entering a world of unpaid phone bills, spilled bongs, and broken appliances. Trust me, get out.
Your flatmate is an arse. It is not a good thing to bring a pet (especially a dog in to a place it isn’t allowed. It makes you and then the dog nervous…nervous equals behaviour problems)
Your parents are also arses though. EVERY child should have a pet of some type! Pets introduce children to empathy, responsibility and caring. They are also an excellent way to introduce children to the concept/reality of death. I don’t care if it is a goldfish but EVERY child SHOULD have a pet.
Surely if you report your flatmate, you could still stay in the apartment and get a new roommate?
This sort of thing makes me so angry - there’s obviously been no thought put into dog ownership and I suspect the dog is not going to have a happy and well adjusted upbringing.
Agreed. Who the fuck thinks it’s okay to bring home a dog
-to a place where they’re not allowed*
-without asking the roommmate first.
I like animals, but I’m more of a cat person–if my roommate decided to bring home a puppy I’d be pissed.
*Our downstairs neighbours have one. We’re not allowed pets in the building. Yet it’s been months and it’s still there. I don’t really have a problem with it except on principle–that and I want a cat dammit!
If both their names are on the lease, they’ve both broken the lease by having the dog there, no matter whose idea it was. Also, the landlord might just decide it’s easier to boot them both and get new tenants, rather than deal with the hassle of trying to get one of them out of the apartment while allowing the other to stay.
The OP’s roommate needs to be told, in no uncertain terms, that the dog has to go back to the store immediately.
Exactly. APT managers have been in my experience the most useless wastes of hair and bone on earth. I college towns they are nearly always students or recent grads who have no actual power, are not there during business hours, and will always take the path of least resistance regarding tennants. It’s easier to fine you both or kick you both out. If they decide to kick out roomie and the fuzzbutt, it might take WEEKS during which roomie will make your life hell.
I suggest that you review your lease and the options and penalties of moving out early, as well as having a gaurded conversation with the apt manager. Be vague about it. “Suppose I was having an issue with my roomate’s conduct that could be a lease violation? If I was to report it, would I be liable?” If they refuse to answer or refuse to answer without more information, I would consult a cheap lawyer. YES I know you are a poor student, but a simple consult usually doesn’t cost too much, and is worth it’s weight in gold if you have an issue. Bottom line, if you are concerned the worst thing to do is Nothing at all.
I’d follow this advice as well.
And you’re roommate is a jerk for putting your immediate housing situation at risk without consulting you on a lease-breaking condition first.
It should have been the first words out of your mouth. If it wasn’t, you have some ownership here. The longer you wait until you do say it, the harder it will get.
Tell him, in no uncertain terms, he has two choices; either the puppy goes, or he and the puppy go, and you don’t care which. No, he won’t be getting his last months rent back, that will go to cover the cost while you get a new roomie. Give him a week, which, by the way, is more than he gave you.
You live, obliviously, in a college town. Put the word out, put up flyers at the student union and you’ll find another room mate, I promise.
I’m going to have to go with the majority here and also say, puppy goes or they both go. You have a say on whether or not you live with a puppy (and like others have said, a baby animal is a HUGE responsibilty).
If you need a legal consult, check and see if your U. has a legal office for students. UT did. They did alot of lease/landlord advice stuff.
A roommate (while I was at UT) did the same thing to me. Then she would leave for the weekend and not take the puppy with her. She did not have a crate for it. It was not paper trained or anything trained. It ruined our hardwood floors. Destroyed my boyfriend’s tie. She sent an obvious - if perhaps unintended - message that the apartment was her home and I was just a guest, since my opinion was obviously moot on a very important issue. This was almost 20 years ago and it still pisses me off.
