Summarize the following:
Much like with smells, sounds travel easily in apartment buildings. You’ll have to consider your neighbors below, above, and those on the other side of shared walls. Think about the following:  Your dog might bark when you’re not home, disturbing your neighbors. You and your dog might cause a lot of noise if you play inside. While throwing a ball in your living room in a single family home might seem like no problem at all, the associated noise in an apartment building will certainly disturb your neighbors. Any other noise that might be related to your pet that could potentially disturb your neighbors. Most apartment communities require that you inform them of the type and breed of pet before you move in. If you don’t clear it with your landlord, you could face fines, fees, or even eviction. Consider the following when looking to acquire a new pet or picking an apartment community:  Whether the community allows dogs or cats. The size or weight limit of pets allowed in the community. Breed restrictions for the community or even the county or municipality. The number of pets your community will allow. Most apartment communities require a vet reference and documents detailing vaccinations. If your pet is not up to date on his/her vaccinations, you need to consider this, and be ready to get him/her vaccinated before you move in.  Make sure to be signed up with a local vet who has your complete file on hand Make sure to have vaccination documentation on hand, as most apartment communities require these before they will approve your pet. Make sure to have references from vets, neighbors, or former landlords who will vouch that your pet is well-kept and well-behaved. If you have a dog, you should purchase baggies and be prepared to pick up your dog’s waste every time it poops. There are a number of reasons for this:  Respect your neighbors. You want to keep your apartment community looking and smelling nice. Respect your neighbors and maintenance workers who don’t want to step in dog poop. You could face fines from the apartment community if you don’t pick up your dog poop. Apartment communities are unique in that you’ll be living in relatively close proximity to other people. Smells can often travel through hallways and from one apartment to another. As a result, you want to make sure you clean your litter box regularly in order to prevent your neighbors from also living with the smell of your cat. The central feature of apartment communities is shared space. As a result, you don’t want to be letting your dog or cat roam freely in your community. Keep your dog on a leash, and keep your cat inside (unless you want to walk him/her on a leash, too). There are a number of reasons for this:  Some pet owners, although required to by the community, might not vaccinate their pets. Letting your pet roam would make him/her more vulnerable to parasites and other illnesses. One of your neighbors might accidentally hit your pet with their car. Your cat or dog might get into a fight with another cat or dog. Some dogs and/or cats are very nervous when they meet new people. You want to make sure that your dog or cat won’t attack or be overly aggressive to neighbors or unsuspecting maintenance workers.  Consider enrolling your dog in obedient school. Train your dog to not lunge, growl, or bark at people on the street. Although you shouldn’t let your cat roam in the first place, if your cat tends to escape frequently, make sure he or she is not aggressive. This will help minimize potentially costly or harmful cat fights.
Be a considerate neighbor when it comes to noise. Clear your pet with the landlord before you move in or bring home a new pet. Be prepared to present your landlord with a vet reference and associated documentation. Clean up after your dog. Clean up after your cat. Avoid letting your pet roam the neighborhood. Socialize your dog or cat.