Locking up all that money just to have 'space' will eat at you once you start buying more.

If you have and it still cash flows healthily, then the deal makes sense and is low risk. 

I always thought this was a dog eat dog industry!

I have one terrible vice that eats cash like crazy and I will never retire while I'm healthy.I have a rental. 

As Andy points out above, you could end up holding the note for far longer than you anticipated and that interest will eat you alive. 

Or eat at some good places? 

Let that be a lesson to me and I guess I'll just have to eat that one.

The second question is can I charge it to them and at least take it out of the deposit, which was only $600, but at least I only eat $150 at that point.The last question is, the citation said I could appeal.

Pets can do much more damage than just scratching up floors (i.e. peeing on carpet, eating blinds, chewing on molding, etc.).

That eats away any meat left on the bone.