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Pets = Home Sweet Home

Share with fellow dog lovers!

I am so excited to announce that DogTipper has partnered with Apartment Guide to serve as an Official Apartment Guide Pet Blogger! As an official blogger, we will be sharing articles and ideas for exploring your space, city and style.

First, I wanted to take a look back at the past–my own past–and both my first apartment and first pet as an adult.

As I’ve written about before, I grew up with pets. From my childhood dogs (Henry, Peanut and Pepsi) to my dear duck (Daisy) to an energetic hamster (Templeton), my childhood memories are filled with furry (and feathered) fun and love. As far back as I can remember, there was always, always a pet in our lives.

After graduate school, I moved to Austin to my very first apartment, a great place that wasn’t too far from my first professional job (at the Texas State Capitol). It was just the kind of property I was looking for: well-maintained, a great layout, beautiful grounds, and a nice atmosphere in the community.

But there was something missing. I needed some furry companionship.

So after a few months in my new apartment, I went to the local animal shelter, at that time called the Town Lake Animal Shelter. I decided that a perfect pet for my new place would be a cat…my first cat.

I headed down to the animal shelter and searched and searched…until I found just the right cat. A big tabby kitten was the one!

I then went to complete the adoption papers and learned an important lesson that I’ve passed onto so, so many people in the years since: you will need a letter from your landlord to adopt a pet and you should obtain this before you go to the shelter. I raced back to my apartment, paid a pet deposit, and my landlord, a pet lover herself, happily gave me a letter. Once again, I raced down to the shelter. Would my kitten still be there?

I was lucky…he was! Soon the adoption was completed, and I was on my way back to my apartment with my new roommate. I named him Cheeto. As soon as I brought him back to my apartment, he began checking it all out. For the next hour, he went from room to room of the apartment, inspecting it all. Finally, he came back into the living room and sat with me on the floor.

He was home.

And so was I. This was no longer my apartment but my home.

For the next 15 years, Cheeto stayed right by my side. When I switched to self-employment, he took his position right beside my computer and welcomed many more cats to the family…and to my home.

For More Information:

  • If you’re ready for a whole new space or are looking to move, Apartment Guide has the photos, floor plans, features and tips to help you find the perfect pet-friendly apartment community.

Apartment Guide and owner Consumer Source, Inc. have partnered with bloggers like me as Official Apartment Guide Bloggers. As part of this program, I have received compensation. They have not told me what to purchase or what to say about the products used, and believe that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Consumer Source’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

Paris Permenter
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This post originally appeared on DogTipper.com and is the sole property of DogTipper.com.