Love Animals? Here Is How To Make Your Home Pet-Friendly

Everyone has got to love pets! Ask animal  lovers and they will tell you about the emotional connect they have with their pets. If you love pets, it's only fair then to ensure your home is pet-friendly. As many homes in residential projects in India are now either apartments or condominiums, pet owners should ensure that the home they move in caters to the needs of their pets.

It might not seem like an important factor to consider while buying a flat, as several things will be on your mind at that point, but being considerate of yur pet's needs can avoid a number of inconveniences. Even if you do not own a pet at present, make sure that the home you buy has all the amenities necessary to make you a kind pet owner. This will be important even if one of the members of your family loves animals and hopes to own one someday.

Here are some factors that can make your home pet-friendly:

1. Society's rules

A circular by the Animal Welfare Board of India last year said that residential societies have no right to formulate laws regarding regulation of pets. They cannot ban them or even impose special charges for those who own pets.

In spite of the laws, it would be a good idea to ensure beforehand if the building is pet-friendly. A few builders even advertise this fact, but a number of owners of older societies continue to frown upon it. It would be a better idea to live in a pet-friendly home than go on fighting for your rights. Also, do cross check on the animals that are allowed as pets. Most societies allow dogs, cats and birds. Many new societies are warming up to pets and only putting up simple regulations that ban the animals from certain rubberized flooring areas.   

2. Design of windows and balconies

Ensure that the balconies do not have gaps through which your cat or dog might slip away. The parapet should not be in the form or bars and the height should not be low enough for your dog to jump over it.

3. Space within the living area

Is there enough space in the apartment like a cosy corner or a small balcony for the dog? Ensure that your new apartment has places marked for the purpose. Do not go for very small homes if you have a big pet because it can crowd you out and also make it very uncomfortable for the pet.

4. Gardens & lawns

Buildings that have in-built gardens and lawns are perfect for pet ownership. Pets require a lot of exercise and love to have greenery and mud for them to dig and explore. A happy pet is one that gets a lot of space and time to play.

5. Limited number of stairs

Make sure that the home in new apartment complex in India you are moving into does not have too many stairs to take. Small pets might find it difficult to climb long flights of stairs and the owner will have to end up carrying them. That might restrict the amount of trips your pet will be able to take. Also make sure that the flooring of the flat is not too slippery for dogs to run around. Also, many of them get hurt while running around on tough floors.

(The writer has been working as a business journalist for the last nine years, and has covered beats across banking, pharma, healthcare, telecom, technology, power, infrastructure, shipping and commodities)