Help! Pet damges of $4500 above deposit.

[Kelly McMillan]

I allowed a tenant to have pets (3 small dogs), with a pet deposit of $300. He was the first tenant in a newly renovated unit with refinished wood floors. After several visits in which I found feces on the floor, a growing odor of urine, and finally, an unauthorized cat living in the property, I told the tenant his lease would not be renewed and he needed to relocate (there was only two months left on his lease, so it did not seem worth evicting).

Now that he is out, the smell is horrendous (you can smell it from outside the front door). I've been told the floors need to be replaced and the house treated with ozone.

My question is, how much is the tenant responsible beyond his regular and pet deposit? I plan to file in small claims court, for what good it will do. But the total repairs will be about $6500. Technically, the lease does not say pets can't urinate and defecate in the house. Would I face any problems in court, without that in the lease? or do I only get a maximum of his pet deposit in return for damages?

Thanks for your help,

First time landlord