Metro Manila has an abundance of condominiums. Conveniently situated in urban areas, condominiums can provide city dwellers with a home to call their own. There is also a growing number of Filipinos who are pet owners, specifically dogs. Dogs are now becoming a staple in our everyday lives and are now considered precious members of the family. We see these cute furry babies almost everywhere. Malls and establishments are now becoming pet-friendly as more and more people bring their dogs with them whenever and wherever possible. This also means residential condos are now becoming pet-friendly, too.
Over a decade ago when I was looking for a place for me and my dog, there weren’t a lot of options available. Finding a pet-friendly condo back then wasn’t that easy. Finding a pet-friendly condo that allowed large breed dogs was even trickier, as my dog is a Labrador Retriever. Most condos back then didn’t allow dogs; the few ones that did mostly allowed only small breed dogs.
I had also experienced unit owners changing their minds about having a dog living in their unit at the last minute (as in the day before signing a contract), either by canceling the lease signing, or increasing the rent. Even with me offering to have an unfurnished unit, most unit owners still balked at the idea of a large breed dog staying in their unit. Luckily, after months of searching, I found a building that allows dogs of all sizes and breeds, and even luckier that my prospective landlord also had a Labrador Retriever.
A few years back, I looked for a new place for me and my dog. This time around, there were more options available. My condo hunt this time around looked different: I brought my dog, Sunday, with me to the viewings so that I could truly see if the unit and the building would be a good fit for us. Size matters especially for large breed dogs. The width of corridors and service elevators was something that I had to consider. I viewed some nice pet-friendly condos that unfortunately had narrow corridors and service elevators; some were so narrow that my dog’s large stroller could barely fit. Other features I also considered with my dog’s comfort in mind were the flooring and loft-type units with stairs. Because my dog is a senior with arthritis (she just turned 15 last August), slippery floors and stairs are a no-no.
We landed on our current home because it ticked all of our boxes: large breed-friendly building; nice, safe, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood; proximity to grocery, vet, and parks; and my dog felt at ease when we viewed the unit. There’s a variety of dog breeds and sizes in my building. I’ve gotten to know some of the dog parents (a perk of having a dog), and so I’ve asked a couple of them to share their condo-hunting experience and advice for our readers.
Bruno’s mom has several pets – a dog and bunnies – so the challenge for her was to find a condo that was at the very least tolerant of having multiple pets in the unit, as well as a landlord who didn’t mind that too. Her advice to pet owners is to do your research: find out if the condo you’re eyeing is pet-friendly, and if it is near a vet. She also shares that it’s important to be completely transparent about your pets – quantity, kind, breed, and size.
Archie’s dad shares that one perk he enjoys about living in a pet-friendly condo is the friendliness of the staff towards his dog. He appreciates how accommodating the staff are, especially the security guards, because they know his dog has experienced trauma in the past and so they act with caution around him.
If you are looking for a place for you and your dog, my advice is for you to bring them along to the viewing so you can see how they will react. It is important to take note of their needs, and how safe or suitable the unit, building, and neighborhood are for your dog. Lastly, please be a considerate and responsible pet owner. Follow the condo’s guidelines, clean up after your dog’s mess, keep them leashed in common areas such as the lobby and elevators. It only takes one unfortunate incident for condo admins to impose stricter pet guidelines, or worse, revoke them. Remember: there are no bad dogs, only irresponsible owners.
Ready to find a condo for you and your dog? Here’s a checklist to help you and your fur baby find a home:
CONDO / APARTMENT
- Pet-friendly condo AND pet-friendly unit, especially if you are leasing
- NOTE: While a condominium building may be pet-friendly, some unit owners don’t allow pets; specifically ask your broker for a pet-friendly unit
- Know the parameters and requirements that the building has about pets:
- Pet size and breed
- NOTE: Some buildings only allow small breed dogs and have weight & height requirements
- Number of pets allowed per unit
- Pet-friendly amenities
- Building Guidelines and requirements about handling your pets
- Fines and penalties
- Poop and pee zones
- Off-leash policy
- Separate elevator for pets
- Updated vaccination record and building registration form
NEIGHBORHOOD
- Barangay guidelines
- Registration and ID for your pet (if applicable)
- Fines and penalties for pet owners
- Poop and pee zones
- Off-leash policy
- Vicinity of the condo
- Walkable sidewalk
- Safe for walking for both you and your dog
- Accessibility to parks is a bonus
- Proximity to vet clinic, and other places that are important to you
