What is a pet reference, how to prepare a pet resume?

Small furry things that pull at carpets, make smelly messes, poop on everything, tear down curtains and run around up and down the fences are family to millions of people around the globe. Australia is a nation of pet owners and pet lovers with 62% of households owning a pet. But our non-human companions are not welcomed in most of the rental properties. Each year hundreds of families are forced to surrender their loved pets to animal welfare and rescue organizations simply because owners cannot find pet-friendly rental accommodation.

It is true that everyone wants to wake up to a place that smells of fresh morning air and freshly brewed coffee BUT with pets around, your property runs the risk of smelling awful. However, a responsible pet-owner armed with glowing references from previous landlords can build a strong case for pet occupancy. Landlords do understand that not all pets pose a threat to their property, therefore, they consider a pet resume as a reference document which ensures that your pet is well-behaved and won’t do any harm. No matter what type of pet you own, the major concerns raised by the landlords are likely to be the same. Usually, the list includes possible property damage, hard-to-remove odors, noises, neighborhood safety, and a threat of fleas and ticks.

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If your pet is a canine, you should anticipate and dispel landlord’s doubts about property damages, odor, and safety of neighbors whereas with felines, neuter/spay status holds the top priority. The best strategy is to put yourself in your landlord’s shoes and imagine all the sticking points that can arise at some stage. Your four-legged companions now deserve a business-worthy resume carrying detailed information along with reference letters from the previous landlords. A pet resume provides an opportunity to showcase your pet’s best qualities and your awareness of your responsibilities as a pet owner.

Although the pet resume trend is relatively new, it can change a pet-tolerant mindset into a pet-friendly one. A good pet resume must cover the following points:

Formal Details:

This section covers the formal details about your pet that enable the landlord to have a sketch of the animal in his/her mind. The formal details include:

Photo: With the exception of few, our cuddly companions are adored by many. Keeping this factor in mind, it is highly advisable to put a cutest picture of your four-legged companion on the top of the resume to help your future landlord fall in love with your pet at first glance.

Name: Next on the list is the inclusion of pet’s name. Again a nice, small name makes the right impression.

Age and Sex: Age is just a number in case of your four-legged friend. Landlords are mostly concerned about the breed and size of the pet. Likewise, your pet’s sex is most likely not the deciding factor for your landlord but still you need to mention it on the resume.

Breed: This is no doubt an important factor because all breeds are not equal. Some are friendly, others are not. Some are more inclined to barking and messing everything around, while others are isolated and calm. Therefore, a pet resume must clearly indicate your pet’s breed. If your pet belongs to a breed that is famous for being aggressive and hyperactive, add additional notes portraying your animal as being different like ‘the most relaxed Bengal in the city’ etc.

Weight and Size: The landlords correlate this with the possible amount of property damage. They might be completely unfamiliar with temperament and behavior of a certain breed, but the size and weight of your pet may reassure them about any possible future damages.

Health Record:

Our four-legged furry companions are notorious for carrying fleas and ticks and potentially leaving future tenant allergies. A good health record also reflects a level of care and attention that may provide insight into how the property will also be cared for. Therefore, a pet’s health record is mandatory to address the landlord’s concerns. It must carry the following information:

Vaccination Details: You must ensure the prospective landlord that your pet is regularly health checked and vaccinated and its flea, tick and worming controls are kept up to date.

Neuter/Spay Status: The neuter/spay status of your dog or cat does make an impact upon your prospective landlord. This really affects the scale of pet odor and impacts the possible level of aggressiveness. Consider the procedure as a part of your moving preparation if breeding is not a part of your plan. Your four-legged friends will enjoy many health benefits that come with getting spayed and neutered.

Veterinarian Reference: In order to make your pet application stronger, you can ask your vet to write you a reference. This reassures prospective landlords that you are a responsible pet owner. A vet reference must include that your pet is well behaved and you as a pet owner is concerned about the routine preventive health care of your pet. Your pet’s veterinarian name and contact details should be clearly mentioned on the resume.

Pet Rental History:

It is always good to share with prospective landlords your previous rental experience(s) with your pet. Most landlords want to know in advance that a prospective renter is a good risk, and the same thing goes for his or her pet.

Pet References: Try to get pet references from your recent landlords and neighbors in order to showcase your non-human partner as a gentle, well trained and non-destructive creature, and to reinforce that you are also considerate and responsible in the your care of your pet.

Additional Information:

Never hesitate to add any additional information to improve your pet resume. So if your pet has been trained and certified, make sure to show off its qualification on paper e.g. you can include certificates of training in dog obedience or letters from your dog trainer or groomer. These things give extra points to your pet rental application.

Owner’s Name and Contact:

Lastly, endorse the pet resume with your (owner’s) name and contact number.

Although, all these points are more than enough, you can reinforce the effect by going an extra mile by explaining the ways that show you are a responsible pet owner. You can provide details of the toileting facilities that you have arranged for your pet to ensure cleaner surroundings such as Automatic Litter Box. You can also mention that you are well aware of the needs of your pet and therefore have provided them with adequate stimulation like cat tree or obedience training dog toys, to help ease any concerns around damage by your pets.




A Pet Resume is relatively new, but is a great idea and good step towards helping improve Landlords perceptions of tenants with pets, and prospects of having more quality accommodations available for the fur family.