Best way to handle tent ask for a dog.

[Kevin Velarde]

I have had this tenant for a year and he and his wife and 3 children have been fantastic. Their lease is about to expire at the end of this month. I just got a text message from them asking to add a pet(small dog) to the home. I live in the back house behind my tenants and don't want things to get  awkward if I refuse .  I know their children have wanted an animal for a long time. how would you guys best handle the situation. I'm not too happy about adding a dog to the unit.

Text message from tenant: 

Hi, sorry to bug you but I wanted to ask you if it will be ok if we took in my mother in laws small elderly dog he is about 12 years old and is completely house trained, she needs to place him and asked us but I wanted to run it by you 1st. Here is a picture of him so you can see he is a small dog.

Please advice

Regards

[Andrew B.]

The only thing I would suggest considering is making sure your lease update specifically states that only this dog is allowed, and any new pets added  still have to be approved by you.

My fear would be they use it as an excuse to get a second dog, because "we are already paying a pet fee anyway" or maybe in a few years this dog will die, and they will move in a puppy, without telling you, who will pee all over your floor/carpet and have to be trained not to chew up your baseboards.

that's just my .02 cents though