One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
How a Pit Bull Could Help You Get Your Next Apartment
Photo by LA Wad via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
If you've tried to rent an apartment in Los Angeles recently along with a canine companion, you've no doubt been asked, "what kind of dog is it?" as many times as you've filled out applications. The meaning behind the question isn't subtle; landlords aren't interested in knowing that you happen to have an Australian Shepherd mix whose worst quality is that she just loves too much. They want to know whether you have a pit bull, or another breed deemed aggressive, or possibly a yapper, and if so, your chances of hearing from them again are about as good as if you vomit on a first date.
But one dog-loving lady who works for real estate broker Keller Williams is doing the exact opposite when it comes to pups. In an ad for a recent vacancy, Sandy Zalagens offered a $150 discount on the $950 a month rent to any would-be tenants who agreed to adopt Big Louie, an 80-pound pit who Zalagens helped rescue off the streets.
The Huffington Post reports that the process might be somewhat questionable in terms of, you know, legality and whatnot, but that after finding a tenant amenable to the unusual rental requirement, Zalagens so far hasn't run into any problems.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
