Do you think I'm wrong to limit the amount of pets my sister owns?

Question

My sister lives in my basement and pays me $100 a month in rent. Should I limit the amount of dogs she has? She already has 2 and wants more. My husband is a truck driver and needs his sleep while he's home and her dogs bark sometimes and he's getting pretty Pi**ed Off about it. My sister takes good care of her dogs,but she works a lot so they are left alone sometimes from 8 am to 8 or 9pm. I hate to think of them down there all alone all day. Should I let her get more? My husband wants me to tell her that if they keep barking they have to go, should I? I feel like she pays rent so she should be able to do anything any person off of the street that rents would be able to. I'd hate to think her dogs had to go to the pound. Plus she's a drama queen so I'm afraid to tell her no. I'm trying to help her get some money saved by giving her a cheap place to live so she won't have it so rough starting out. Am i being a pushover when it comes to the pets?

I take the dogs out to the bathroom and they are not caged all day. As I said she does take very good care of them.

Answer 1

First, no matter whether she pays rent or not, it is your house and you have the right to set the rules. Even for a basement $100 a month is pretty darn cheap, so she really doesn't have the right to complain.
If the two dogs are already causing problems, there is no way she can handle more. In my opinion, there's no reason to have more animals in this situation, if she's not home for long, they aren't getting the attention and exercise they need, probably.
Also, I don't know about your area, but where I live it is very very hard to find any place that allows pets, so she's lucky you are allowing her to have any animals at all.
And on that note, the more animals she has the harder it will be for her to find a place once she is ready to move out.
If she really wants more animals and can find a place for them, then maybe that will encourage her to work hard and save up money so she can move out all the more quickly. It will give her a goal.
And I know many people don't like them, but bark collars work wonders if the dogs are really causing problems. There is even one that releases a spray that supposedly distracts the dog, rather than an electric shock. Although I've felt a bark collar and it's really just a mild tingle--unpleasant but not at all painful. I tried one before I put them on my dogs--and it works great. Just don't leave it on 24/7, only when you really need them to be quiet.
Good luck!

Answer 2

Any where she rents she would have a problem with her barking dogs. My daughter was sited twice for her barking dogs and she owns a single dwelling home on a half acre of land. She was ordered to get rid of them by a judge. Barking dogs can be very annoying to anyone that is awake or sleeping. If she gets an apartment on her own she will be in big trouble if her dogs bark. She will have to put them in a dog day care. No you are not wrong to limit her pets, you need to put your foot down, because she will be coming right back after she gets out on her own.

Answer 3

Two dogs shouldn't be confined like that for that long. She doesn't need any more animals, since she can barely have enough time to tend those she has properly.

By all means, limit her. Especially at the meager price you're charging her for rent. She should be saving up to get her own place & then she can do as she wants, according to the rules of her landlord or apartment, or community.

People off the street like me, pay huge amount in rent & still must follow the dictates of where we live, & if an animal lover, we tend the needs of our pets before we tend our own. This includes time, attention, affection, vet bills, and all around condition.

Answer 4

Yes you are a pushover. Are you willing to let your marriage suffer because your sister is a selfish uncaring spoiled brat? $100 per month is great! But how are you helping her SAVE if she keeps getting pets to feed? Then leaving dogs alone in a basement for 12-13 hours per day. You should all be turned into the Humane Society. That is cruel. Where do they go poo & pee? Who feeds them and when? I've paid $600 per month & my landlord made me sign a pet limit contract & an extra deposit because I had indoor pets. Get rid of the dogs, then kick your sister out. She can't learn to be independant with you treating her like a charity case!

Answer 5

Just tell her that she can't get anymore dogs or SHE is out. Don't make her take the dogs to the pound. For the price you pay in barking dogs, her rent is so not enough. I would say...maybe...$250.00 a month? So, anyways, back to the dogs, they need some way to get in and out of the house through a doggy door. That might help with the barking, cause if they r high strung dogs, NIGHTMARE CITY!!!! OK, hope I helped you a little.

Answer 6

You should limit her to a certain number of pets. Two dogs is more than enough, especially when they are in a basement for an extended period of time. Maybe tell her to tie them outside for the day or something.
Explain to her that your husband needs his rest and the dogs tend to disturb him sometimes. Also mention that it just isn't fair to have a bunch of animals locked in a basement while she is at work all day. You are very generous to let her have 2 dogs, I'd probably have told her to keep it at 1 dog and maybe 1 or 2 cats.

Answer 7

For starters, if you live in a town, there is probably a legal limit for the number of dogs allowed. As for just your family, if she wants more dogs, she needs to be able to take care of them. Leaving them alone for that long is not taking care of them. Rent or not, it is your house. How many apartments do you know that allow dogs at all, or houses for rent for that matter? Whatever you decide to do, don't make her choose between you and the dogs. If it comes to that, tell her she needs to find another place.

Answer 8

Do not let her get more dogs. You are her landlord and need to set boundaries. If the dogs are bothering your husband you should respect you husbands concerns and limit the dogs. If she is that unhappy about you and your husband decision then she will find somewhere else to live. If she really need a place to help her save money then she shouldn't take on the expense of another animal.

Answer 9

She won't save money to get a place of her own if she gets more dogs. Most people cannot even have pets in a basement apartment so tell her she really needs to take care of the 2 she has and start looking for a PERMANENT place.
Drama or not.... your hubby needs his rest or he can DIE on the road. What's more important?

Answer 10

Anywhere else would charge her at least 200.00 per animal in deposits, and she will have to face that when she finally does move out. If she is bad off enough she has to live with you for 100.00 a month aquiring more animals that will cost her lots of $$ should be the last thing on her priority list right now. She needs to think responsibly. How is she going to pay all the vet bills for vaccinations, heartworm medications, emergencies if they get sick? It's bad enough with one but you need $$ to keep up with multiples properly. She needs a wakeup call if she is ever going to function independently.