We wish you and your loved ones all a very happy and safe holiday season.

Do you allow pets?

According to the ASPCA, there are somewhere between 70 and 80 million dogs in the country, and somewhere between 74 and 96 million cats. The organization also estimates that about one third of U.S. households have pets — a huge number of potential tenants looking for pet-friendly apartments. The ASPCA notes that one of the most common reasons people relinquish pets is that their home does not allow them, and it's also likely that a huge number of renters looking for apartments choose to ignore multifamily communities that do not allow pets.

A 2014 Multifamily Executive article offered the suggestion that "pet owners make up 30 percent to 40 percent of all multifamily renters." A chart on marketplace.org suggests that more than 35% of people earning between $60,000 and $84,999 per year have cats, and that more than half of people earning between $75,000 and $84,999 have dogs.

In other words, apartment communities that don't allow pets may be ignoring about a third of potential prospects, including many higher-income households.

Pet Statistics [ASPCA]
Reining Cats and Dogs [Multifamily Executive]
Behind the Data: Pet ownership by income bracket [marketplace.org]

We hope everyone has a wonderful day surrounded by family and friends! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!